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For all the mystery it clears up , The Lord of the Rings : The Rings of Powerseason 2still allow viewers with at least one major question to mull over as they expect the show ’s paying back . The serial publication ’ second time of year specifically does not reveal the identity element of the secret baddie known aright now only as the Dark Wizard ( Ciarán Hinds ) . The quality ’s physical appearance and seeming allegiance to Sauron ( Charlie Vickers ) have nonetheless lead many fans to theorise that he may be Saruman , the wizard excellently played in Peter Jackson’sLord of the Rings and Hobbit filmsby the recent , great Christopher Lee .
However , in a post - finale consultation withVanity Fair , The Rings of Powershowrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne seemed to shoot that peculiar theory down . “ Given the history of Middle - earth , it would be highly , highly , highly improbable that this could be Saruman , ” McKay said , to which Payne added , “ If not out of the question . ”
Ben Rothstein / Prime Video
“ The Dark Wizard has an important role to represent in the doings of Middle - worldly concern and in the development of our wizard , who ’s now come into his own , ” McKay continued . “ The Dark Wizard ’s fate is not decide , and his name is not out there yet , but it would almost defy the constabulary of gravitational attraction and physic for it to be Saruman . ”
According to J.R.R. Tolkien ’s original canon , Saruman does n’t really make it in Middle - earth as a wizard until the earth ’s Third Age — i.e. , several hundred or thousand days afterThe Rings of Powerwill presumptively end . The same is rightful of Gandalf , though , a reference whomThe Rings of Power‘s time of year 2 finale let on The Stranger ( Daniel Weyman ) has on the QT been all along . In the wake of that reveal , fans began to really believe the Prime Video series was go to likewise rewrite Saruman ’s canonic backstory by make him Hinds ’ Dark Wizard . Now , it does n’t look like that is give out to be the font .
That should descend as a relief to diehard Tolkien fans . After all , it would n’t make much sense for Gandalf to set the trust in Saruman that he does at the start of the War of the Ring if his fellow ace had already proven himself subject of immorality so many days prior . realize Saruman the Dark Wizard would also surcharge the former ’s treachery of Gandalf inThe Fellowship of the Ringof all of its dramatic weight .
It still remains to be seen who the Dark Wizard in reality is inThe Rings of Power . There are a few canonic options left , admit a duo ofBlue Wizardswhom Tolkien wrote vaguely about several time throughout his life . For now , though , ring of Powerfans can at least repose well-to-do knowing he very likelyisn’tSaruman .
Seasons 1 and 2 ofThe Lord of the Rings : The Rings of Powerare streaming now on Prime Video .