Summary
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powershowrunner Patrick McKay addresses the implications of season 2’s Dark Wizard, and where it fits into the original lore written by J R.R. Tolkien. The Prime Video fantasy series explored the rise of Sauron, his quest to construct a ring to rule them all, and the coming conflicts that will shape Middle-earth’s Second Age. Alongside the return of Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel, Charlie Vicker’s Sauron, Robert Aramayo’s Elrond, and Maxim Baldry’s Isildur,Rings of Powerseason 2’s castwill see the debut of Middle-earth fan-favorite characters, including Rory Kinnear’s Tom Bombadil.
Ahead ofThe Rings of Power’s three-episode season 2 premiere, McKay sat down withComicBook.comto address the lore implications of a new threat set to terrorize Middle-earth. When discussing the arrival of Ciaran Hinds' Dark Wizard and his debut in Middle-earth’s history, the showrunner explained that the new character is rooted in the temptations of Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and Saruman (Christopher Lee) in the face of great power. Check out McKay’s explanation below:
I don’t know that it’s that new of a concept. We have seen throughout Tolkien that powerful beings are tempted to evil. Gandalf will not carry the Ring for he fears the evil it could do through him. Saruman turns to evil, believing that that’s the best way to save the world, in whatever twisted logic he’s come up with. So we know that good characters can turn to evil, and we know that even wizards can turn to the dark side, so to speak, and watching how that’s gonna play out with Ciarán Hinds is gonna be hopefully a real thrill for people.
Is The Dark Wizard An Existing Tolkien Character?
There Are Two Potential Istari That This New Sorcerer Can Be
With the Dark Wizard arriving in Middle-earth, it is likely a looming thread fromRings of Powerseason 1 will be answered involvingDaniel Weyman’s Istari Stranger, and the three mysterious women who pursued him in season 1. The Dweller (Dweller), the Nomad (Edith Poor), and the Ascetic (Kali Kopae) wandered Middle-earth in search of a being they believed to be Sauron, suspecting the Stranger could be their subject of worship. While Vickers' Halbrand was revealed to be Sauron inRings of Power’s season 1 conclusion, this sinister Istari may have been deceiving these worshipers.
Where The Rings Of Power Fits Into The Middle-earth Timeline
Middle-earth’s timeline covers over 60,000 years, with Frodo’s Lord of the Rings story featured at the end - so where does Rings of Power fit?
Three wizards are already firmly characterized by Tolkien, Gandalf, Saruman, and Radaghast (Sylvester McCoy), and the remaining Istari Alatar and Pallando arrived in Middle-earth in the Second Age, becoming known as the Blue Wizards in their quest to avert Sauron’s rise. While little is known save for the cults they inspired and the role they played in ending Sauron’s reign, the Dark Wizard could fit one of these role. Though his title is ominous,Rings of Power’s Dark Wizard may be motivated by pragmatism, seeing his manipulations and ruthlessness as a necessary evil and the three women as his first cultists.
With how the first season kept the mystery of whom Sauron is a tightly kept secret until its final episodes, it is likely viewers will be kept in the dark for a similar time about the Dark Wizard inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2. While he carries a dark title, McKay’s description does suggest that the Dark Wizard isn’t motivated by evil, and may have more cryptic motives that are harder to determine. Though with his story tied to The Stranger’s, a battle of sorcery is sure to unfold in the Second Age.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
