ONE CAST TO RULE THEM ALL

Times photographer Jay L. Clendenin went behind the scenes with the ensemble from Prime Video’s upcoming fantasy series “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” as the show made its debut at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Follow the actors as they journey through glam sessions, panels and meet-and-greets with fans. Pictured, clockwise from top: Ismael Cruz Cordova; Galadriel cosplayer Lauren Stewart with actor Morfydd Clark; Markella Kavanagh.

It’s been nearly a year since Amazon Prime Video announced the Sept. 2, 2022, premiere date for its highly anticipated “Lord of the Rings” spinoff, “The Rings of Power” — a year of first looks and Super Bowl teaser trailers and speculation about whether the series could possibly hold a candle to Peter Jackson’s magisterial 2001-2003 film trilogy. Now that the wait is nearly over, The Times is getting up close and personal with the cast.

Set thousands of years before the action of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved fantasy series, “The Rings of Power,” from showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, features a sprawling ensemble, including Morfydd Clark as Galadriel and Robert Aramayo as Elrond, two characters familiar to “Lord of the Rings” fans. Many of the cast joined in for the series’ Comic-Con debut Friday — and exclusively embedded with the group throughout the day was Times photographer Jay L. Clendenin. He captured a full range of images from life inside the Comic-Con bubble, from cast members’ morning glam routine to the mayhem of Hall H to the afterglow of a successful bow at the year’s biggest fan gathering. It’s not quite as epic in scope as “Lord of the Rings,” but it’s more than enough to tide you over until “The Rings of Power.”

Photographs by Jay L. Clendenin Los Angeles Times

Jay L. Clendenin Los Angeles Times A COSTUMED FAN chats with actor Daniel Weyman, who plays the Stranger in Prime Video’s upcoming series, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”

Jay L. Clendenin Los Angeles Times AUSTRALIAN actor Sara Zwangobani has her hair done by Kiyah Wright and makeup done by Kai Pritchard in a ballroom at the Pendry San Diego hotel.

Jay L. Clendenin Los Angeles Times CASTMATES Tyroe Muhafidin, left, Lloyd Owen, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Markella Kavenagh and Muhafidin’s brother, Tobias, snack on Twinkies backstage at a fan event during Comic-Con International 2022 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Jay L. Clendenin Los Angeles Times “THE RINGS OF POWER” showrunners Patrick McKay, center, and J.D. Payne, right, at a panel hosted by late-night host Stephen Colbert, left.

Jay L. Clendenin Los Angeles Times EAGER FANS, left, line up to get autographs and meet the cast of Amazon Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Above, posters signed by cast members.