Jamie Campbell Bower explains how LOTR differs from 'Harry Potter' and 'Stranger Things' series

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: Jamie Campbell Bower has long moved past his role as Vecna from Hawkins' Upside Down and entered another realm: Middle-earth.

The 37-year-old actor recently revealed what drew him to joining 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' as Celeborn. For him, the experience is as "beautiful" as it is "terrifying," but in a good way.

After spending years playing villains, Bower is finally stepping into the role of a positive character who fights for good. While many fans know him best as Vecna in Netflix's 'Stranger Things', he has also appeared in major franchises such as 'Harry Potter' and 'Twilight'.

Now, as Bower joins yet another blockbuster franchise, it's safe to say expectations are high. The actor is set to portray Celeborn in the upcoming season of the Prime Video series and recently attended the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con.  

Jamie Campbell Bower compares major fantasy franchises

During a Comic-Con panel, Bower said, “It was kind of amazing because, obviously, the work has been around for so much longer in terms of when the book was written, and when he started it, than really anything else I’ve ever done before,” Bower elaborated.

“And that brings people who have lived with the work for so much longer.”

He continued, “I think what’s beautiful about (JRR) Tolkien’s work and about this story is that everybody forms an emotional attachment to it which is incredible,” he said. “It’s also terrifying as well. That quite a scary thing to step into for sure.”

Speaking about Middle-earth, its beauty, and what makes the series so different from the other franchises he has worked on, Bower said, “There’s a lot of things that I’ve stepped into have been quite sort of dark- and I’m not saying that your world isn’t."

He was addressing his 'The Rings of Power' co-star Charlie Vickers, who plays the villainous Sauron.

“But in terms of where we are, there’s so much beauty and gorgeousness, and that’s just lovely to be in.”

Jamie Campbell Bower's roles beyond 'Stranger Things'

Before taking on the role of Celeborn, Bower had already built a reputation for playing some of fantasy's most memorable villains.

He is set to play Galadriel's long-lost husband in the upcoming third season of the Prime Video series. Long before stepping into Middle-earth, however, he had already left his mark across several major franchises.

Speaking about his villainous era, Bower has portrayed several powerful antagonists beyond 'Stranger Things'. He played a young version of the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1' and later reprised the role in the spinoff film 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'.

Fans may also remember him from Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart's 'Twilight' series, in which he played Caius, a member of the Volturi, the powerful ruling vampire coven.

One of his most acclaimed performances came in 'Stranger Things', where he portrayed Vecna/Henry Creel. The question now is: Will Bower be able to make his mark as Celeborn?