We’re now five episodes into The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The Rings of Power, and all anyone seems to be talking about is Sauron. The Dark Lord is stirring up his legion of Orcs, led by Adar, somewhere in Middle-earth (who could be Sauron in disguise). However, one theory persists, and if true, it could have far-reaching consequences: is Halbrand actually Sauron?
Despite his appearance as a male human, Halbrand appears to have a lot going on underneath the surface. Any further would be a dive into spoilers, so turn back now if you haven’t finished The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power!
In The Rings of Power, who plays Sauron?
Amazon Studios has yet to confirm who will play the villainous Dark Lord himself, Sauron.
Whoever is portraying the source of Galadriel’s rage remains a mystery, which has sparked speculation about who Sauron could be, with many believing he is hiding in plain sight.
In the prologue to the first episode, Shadow of the Past, the character appears briefly in silhouette in his true physical form.
So, who might play Sauron in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?
Charlie Vickers
In The Rings of Power, who could play Sauron? Theories about Lord of the Rings antagonist Charlie Vickers
In the first two episodes of The Rings of Power, Charlie Vickers plays the roguish man Halbrand.
When Halbrand meets Galadriel on the Sundering Seas, he becomes her sole companion as they face a sea beast and storms.
Halbrand’s dark past becomes clear, and Galadriel encourages him to move on from it.
Could Vickers be playing Sauron in secret?
We go into more detail here about the theories surrounding Halbrand’s identity as Sauron, and there is some compelling evidence.
The third episode appears to confirm Halbrand’s status as an heir to the title of King of the Southlands who has fled his home and seeks a new life.
However, Halbrand makes it clear that he is “not the hero” Galadriel is looking for to fight Sauron. Is it possible that he is Sauron himself?
The apparent monarch-in-waiting remains on Numenor by the end of the fourth episode, but will he return and save his kingdom from a dangerous evil?
Daniel Weyman
The Stranger, a mysterious figure introduced at the end of the first episode, crashes into Middle-earth in a red comet.
This man, discovered by Harfoots Nori Brandyfoot and Poppy Proudfellow, is clearly a magical being with a specific purpose, but what is it?
Is The Stranger really Sauron in disguise? Involving himself with the Harfoots would be an intriguing strategic starting point.
By the end of the third episode, The Stranger is well-known in the Harfoot community, and he has joined their caravan as they transport the Brandyfoot family’s belongings.
Joseph Mawle
Game of Thrones actor Joseph Mawle is in the cast of The Rings of Power, playing an antagonist named Adar.
However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, some reports have named his character Oren. Is this his given name?
In the third episode of The Rings of Power, we meet Adar, who is revealed to be a corrupted Elf leading a horde of Orcs and destroying much of the Southlands with evil plans.
Could Adar be Sauron in disguise or one of his many guises?
In the fourth episode, Adar expresses his dissatisfaction with the Elves, accusing them of selling lies.
Adar, who commands an army of Orcs, appears to be undergoing a transformation and is also attempting to use an object as a weapon.
Bridie Sisson
Despite many people speculating based on trailers that her character was played by Anson Boon, executive producer Lindsey Weber later told TIME that Bridie Sisson played this enigmatic figure.
Weber also teased Sisson’s role, saying, “We are enjoying all the online speculation and can tell you Bridie Sisson is an incredible actor.”
“We also thought fans might be interested to know that her character is traveling from far to the east – from Rhûn…”
Tolkien fans will know that Easterlings live in Rhûn, and Sauron has been known to visit the land and command armies of the people who live there as allies.
So, while Sisson does not appear to be portraying Sauron himself, she could be one of his servants.
Who exactly is Sauron?
Sauron, known as the Dark Lord, is one of the most iconic literary villains of all time, ruling over the land of Mordor in Middle-Earth for long periods of time.
Sauron, originally named Mairon, was one of the Maiar, angelic beings created by The Creator before joining forces with the evil Morgoth against him.
Prior to his descent into evil, Mairon studied the Aule – the Valar’s Smith – to learn his ways and worked as a spy in Valinor, the Valar’s home.
Sauron was Morgoth’s chief lieutenant during the First Age’s great war until Morgoth’s defeat. Sauron escaped and went on to become the Dark Lord’s second son.
Sauron soon assumed the form of a beautiful elf named Annatar, the “Lord of Gifts,” and assisted Lord Celebrimbor in the creation of the Rings of Power until the discovery of his “One Ring to Rule Them All,” according to Tolkien’s lore.
After Sauron assisted in the destruction of Numenor, the great war of the Second Age would ensue. Sauron was eventually defeated by The Last Alliance of Men and Elves when Isildur, Elendil’s son, cut the ring from Sauron’s finger.
The character first appeared on-screen in his physical form in the prologue of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, before becoming a disembodied fiery “Eye of Sauron” throughout the trilogy.
The Dark Lord also appeared as a shadowy entity in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy, appearing as the Necromancer in Dol Guldur in The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies before his true identity was revealed. Benedict Cumberbatch provided the voice of Sauron in these scenes.
