Prime Video has officially confirmed that Simon Pegg will voice the Balrog in the third season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, making the creature a speaking character for the first time in the series. The announcement indicates the Balrog will take a more prominent role as the story moves into Sauron’s war against the Elves.

At San Diego Comic-Con, showrunner Patrick McKay described the Balrog as an intelligent and strategic adversary that will share scenes with Sauron. He said Sauron seeks to understand the creature’s resistance to fire while forging the One Ring; Eddie Marsan, Andrew Richardson and Adam Young have also joined the cast, with the season due to debut on Prime Video on 11 November.