Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 8!The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay have addressed theories that the Dark Wizard is Saruman, offering a definitive answer to the idea. The Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds) was first introduced as an antagonist when the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), Nori (Markella Kavenaugh), and Poppy (Megan Richards) first traveled to Rhûn. The end of The rings of power Season 2 called him the stranger a “Old friend“, with his long beard and staff leading some to believe that the evil wizard is actually Saruman the White.
Talk to Vanity Fair, Payne and McKay confirmed the Dark Wizard in The rings of power is not Saruman. The duo explain how the history of Middle-earth would not yet account for his arrival, meaning that the new wizard is someone who has not been met before. The showrunners explain that the stranger, revealed to be Gandalf, will have to fight him at some point. They also mention the other wizards in JRR Tolkien’s works, Radagast the Brown and the two blue wizards, but do not elaborate on any connections. Check out what Payne and McKay had to say below:
Patrick McKay: No, no, I will say something on the record. Given the history of Middle-earth, it would be highly, highly, Supremely Improbable that this could be Saruman.
JD Payne: If not impossible.
Patrick McKay: The Dark Wizard has an important role to play in the making of Middle-earth and in the development of our Wizard, who is now coming into his own. Tom Bombadil told him, “You are destined to face him. And then destined to face Sauron.” The Dark Wizard’s fate is undecided and his name isn’t out there yet, but it would almost defy the laws of gravity and physics to be Saruman.
JD Payne: There’s Radogast the Brown and then there are two blue wizards – and that’s all we’ll say.
What the dark wizard Saruman means for the rings of power
The identity of the wizard is still a mystery
The Dark Wizard was last seen trying to make Gandalf his ally, before deciding to destroy the Stewards’ home and leave to part unknown. While the good Istar could save anyone who embarked on a journey to Middle-earth now that their home was gone, the antagonistic sorcerer’s identity was never worked out. however, He clearly knew who the stranger wasindicating the Rings of power Characters share a past that the heroic magic-user cannot remember. This sets the stage for an inevitable confrontation in the future.
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Given the potential connection between the Dark Wizard and Gandalf, It seems that he is likely one of the Blue Wizards mentioned by Tolkien but never fully explored in his work. This would make sense given Radagast’s passive nature in Middle-earth canon, along with the space McKay and Payne would have to develop Alatar or Pallandro in their own way. Another possibility is that he is an entirely new character, expanding on the lore of wizards by making him a unique force in Rhûn, much like Adar was for Mordor.
Our take on the dark wizard not be Saruman
It keeps the rings of power from being too predictable
While the stranger’s identity as Gandalf was obvious as early as season 1, the Dark Wizard not being Saruman makes his identity almost unpredictable, especially given how little is known about him. It seems that answers will not be arriving until The rings of power Season 3 at the earliest, potentially opening up a whole new world around wizards and their role in Tolkien’s lore. With a new conflict now established between the two magic-users, answers about his identity will surely be on the horizon soon.
Source: Vanity Fair