Despite shedding light on numerous mysteries, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 leaves fans grappling with one significant question: the identity of the enigmatic antagonist currently referred to as the Dark Wizard (portrayed by Ciarán Hinds). Although his appearance and connection to Sauron (played by Charlie Vickers) have led many to speculate that he could be Saruman—an iconic character originally brought to life by the late Christopher Lee in Peter Jackson’s films—the showrunners seem to disagree.
In a post-season finale discussion with Vanity Fair, creators Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne dismissed the notion of Saruman being the Dark Wizard. “Considering the established history of Middle-earth, it’s extremely unlikely that this character could be Saruman,” McKay stated, while Payne concurred with, “If not outright impossible.”
“The Dark Wizard plays a crucial role in the happenings of Middle-earth and in the evolution of our wizard character, who is beginning to discover his true potential,” McKay elaborated. “The Dark Wizard’s destiny remains uncertain, and we haven’t revealed his name yet, but it would be nearly unfathomable for him to be Saruman.”
According to the original works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Saruman doesn’t arrive in Middle-earth as a wizard until the Third Age—long after the timeline of The Rings of Power. The same goes for Gandalf, who, as revealed at the end of the season, is actually The Stranger (played by Daniel Weyman). While fans speculated that the series might alter Saruman’s backstory by linking him to Hinds’ Dark Wizard, the creators’ statements indicate this isn’t the direction they’re pursuing.
This is likely a comforting revelation for devoted Tolkien enthusiasts. It wouldn’t logically fit for Gandalf to trust Saruman at the start of the War of the Ring if Saruman had previously shown a tendency toward darkness. Likewise, transforming Saruman into the Dark Wizard would diminish the emotional intensity of his betrayal of Gandalf depicted in The Fellowship of the Ring.
Currently, fans are left wondering who the Dark Wizard truly is within The Rings of Power. Several canonical figures remain as possibilities, such as the mysterious Blue Wizards, whom Tolkien touched upon sporadically throughout his life. For now, viewers can take solace in the fact that the Dark Wizard is likely not Saruman.
Seasons 1 and 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power are available for streaming on Prime Video.