It's only been two real years since The Lord of the Rings prequel was on our screens, but five years will have passed when The Rings of Power season 3 picks up. However, showrunner Patrick McKay says the break has allowed Middle-earth to reach the point where war is brewing again, so we can dive right back into the action.

"The five-year jump allowed the story to have scope, for the world to change,” said co‑showrunner Patrick McKay in an interview with SFX Magazine. "The war has been raging across Middle-earth, and now we’re at a tipping point. Sauron has conquered everything except for two pockets of Elven resistance that are defended by their rings."

McKay continued, "This third season is where every single storyline becomes part of the large, epic war between Sauron and the Elves, and hopefully the show is deeper in its emotionality and the psychology of the characters."

Season 2 ended with the Dark Lord on top after killing Celebrimbor and securing the Nine Rings of Men. The Elves took another hit when Eregion fell under seige, leading the surviving Elves to flee to what will become known as Rivendell. Elsewhere, the Stranger was finally revealed as Gandalf, and Balrog was freed. From that point on, all sides have been preparing for war, as season 3 promises a fiery battle.

According to the official synopsis from Amazon, we know that in the time that has passed, Sauron’s armies have started their march toward our heroes, with just a few sites left standing. That includes Khazad-dûm, where the Dwarves are sealed deep in the mountains, and the elven realms of Lindon and Rivendell. Now, Sauron sits in his tower in Mordor, growing even more enraged with the desire for domination. The Elves, Dwarves, Free Men, and Wizards must come together to prevent him from forging The One Ring to Rule Them All.

Season 3 welcomes back Morfydd Clark as Galadriel, Charlie Vickers as Sauron, and Daniel Weyman as Gandalf, and adds Jamie Campbell Bower as Galadriel's long-lost love, Celeborn.

The Rings of Power season 3 hits Prime Video on November 11. For more, check out our guides on how to watch The Lord of the Rings movies and shows in order and the Lord of the Rings timeline.

Do you remember when Stranger Things fans convinced themselves that a secret ninth episode was on the way earlier this year? Well, although we never did get to go back to Hawkins, another beloved franchise has taken its fanbase by surprise and delivered a secret instalment, allowing fans to return back to Derry almost one year after IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 came to an end.

Without any warning, HBO randomly released the 30-minute-long bonus episode, titled 'A Story of Derry,' on Halloween. Set hundreds of years before Pennywise came to be, the new episode follows three youngsters from a Native American tribe who venture into the Western Wood where they encounter a terrifying ancient spirit. HBO Max shared a short trailer for the special on Twitter, which you can watch below.

The new episode gives us more insight into what the evil entity we know as IT actually is and why it targets Derry. However, we got a little taste of this in IT: Welcome to Derry season 1. In episode 4, after Dick Hallorann enters Taniel's mind, he learns that the Native Americans stumbled upon the entity, which they call 'Tha Gallo,' many years ago when they settled on the land. Tha Gallo murdered tribe members and would grow stronger with every kill, so the natives imprisoned it beneath a large area that would later become the town of Derry.

The special brings Dick's vision to life and reveals just how the natives caged the beast. We already know that the spirit was kept at bay by a number of pillars placed around the forest, which is why it can never leave Derry and break out into the wider world. However, the caveat is that IT wakes every 27 years and causes a catastrophic event in Derry before it sleeps again. IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 takes place in the '60s, 27 years before the first IT movie, which in turn takes place 27 years before IT: Chapter 2.

IT: Welcome to Derry season 2 is set to take us right back to the 1930s. Just as season 1 saw the monster feed on the horrific Black Spot disaster, season 2 is set around another tragic event: the Bradley Gang Massacre. Mentioned in Stephen King's 1986 novel, the event sees a band of criminals target stores and banks in Derry, which leads to a deadly shootout in the middle of town. Season 2 is currently in the pre-production stage, with Crystal Lake creator Brad Caleb Kane serving as solo showrunner this time.

It: Welcome to Derry season 2 does not yet have a release date. For more, check out our list of the best shows on HBO Max, and keep up with upcoming Stephen King movies and shows on the way.