The Rings of Power is set for its darkest and most dramatic instalment yet with season 3 and, as part of that, we have an intriguing new orc to grapple with.
Adam Young is set to play Manukh, described by showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay as an "orc with an arc".
But what exactly is he set to bring to the Lord of the Rings spin-off and does he have any connection to ill-fated Adar (Sam Hazeldine), our last orc with an arc?
Speaking exclusively to Radio Times, Young said of Manukh: "He's basically Sauron's right-hand man. He's one of his foot soldiers, a general, and he has questionable motives right from the get-go, and you're unsure of where it's leading."
Previously, fans were captivated by Adar, Lord-father of the Orcs who struck up an alliance with Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and co – although last season he was tragically betrayed and killed by his children. His character did a huge amount to humanise the orcs, and from what we know so far, it sounds like Manukh is set to do the same.
However, when asked specifically whether the two characters have any connection, Young is keeping quiet, only telling us: "People will have to wait and see, but yeah, Adar is mentioned."
Meanwhile, one bizarre detail that has been reported about Manukh is that he "writes poetry" – a very odd pastime for an orc.
Speaking to that detail, Young laughed: "It's funny what people grab and and hold onto. He definitely has a way with words, and he's very witty and he's very brave, to speak up to certain people of power."
Consider us intrigued!
Season 3 will be something of a reset for The Rings of Power, with the show jumping ahead into the future, following the dramatic events of last season. Crucially, this instalment is set to show perhaps the most important event in all of Tolkien's history – Sauron forging the One Ring.
"It's a lot darker," Young promised. "There's destruction, there's death. For me, it was an absolute joy to just jump straight into that world. 12-year-old me was freaking out – in a good way!"
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video from Wednesday 11 November 2026. You can sign up to Amazon Prime Video for a 30-day free trial.
Add The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews listen to The Radio Times Podcast.