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Quick LinksRhûn Was an Important But Rarely Explored Portion of Middle-earthSome Fascinating The Lord of the Rings Characters Had Ties to RhûnA Spin-off Set in Rhûn Would Look Unlike Any Other The Lord of the Rings Film

My favorite films of all time are those that comprise Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and I am far from alone in that opinion. They dominated the box office in the early 2000s, even beating out the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and earned an astounding 17 Academy Awards. That is why it comes as no surprise that Warner Bros. wants to return to Jackson's version of Middle-earth. 2024 saw the release of Kenji Kamiyama's animated film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, and that was only the beginning of Warner Bros.' plans for The Lord of the Rings spin-off films. In the realm of live action,...

A lot of us definitely thought he was Saruman, right? The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 brought with it a new character, known only as the Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds). Like The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) before him, the Dark Wizard arrived on the scene with his identity shrouded in mystery, with very few clues to go on, save that the name "Dark Wizard" was not one he had chosen for himself. A secondary clue — though perhaps it's more red herring than anything else — is that said Dark Wizard sports an awfully Saruman-like beard.

The second season of Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power came to an end this week, and the finale seemed to leave little doubt as to the identity of the "Dark Wizard" played by Game of Thrones alum Ciarán Hinds.

However, all may not be as it seems when it comes to this mysterious and very powerful character.

We know that this blatantly evil sorcerer is an "Istar," and it was generally assumed that he must be Sarauman. Granted, it would be a pretty major change to the lore if this character "broke bad" prior to the events of Tolkien's trilogy, but so would the introduction of another Istari who was never mentioned in the saga at all.

This led to speculation that Hinds might be playing either Alatar or Pallando, the "Blue Wizards" who are never really discussed in any great detail in The Lord of the Rings...

It took two seasons and as many years but “Rings of Power” fans finally know who The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) really is – and it’s exactly who you think.

The Stranger found his name after coming face-to-face with the Dark Wizard (Ciaran Hinds) of Rhǔn at the Storers home. The wizard told The Stranger they were old friends and they came to Middle-earth together to face Sauron. The difference is that the Dark Wizard wants to rule in Sauron’s place.

The Stranger refuses and the Dark Wizard tries to bring the canyon down on the Storers. The Stranger manages to hold the collapse at bay until everyone is free. As morning comes, the Storers have decided to go on the move if Nori (Markella Kavanagh) and Poppy (Megan Richards) lead them.

As the group is leaving, they individually thank him as “grand elf.” Nori explains it’s probably because...

Warning! Major spoilers ahead for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 finale.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power director Charlotte Brndstrm and director of photography Alex Disenhof explain Adar's dark fate in the season 2 finale. Prime Video's hit The Lord of the Rings show created by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, just concluded its sophomore outing, teeing up an explosive season 3. After playing an important role as a villain in most episodes thus far, The Rings of Power's season 2 finale sees Adar (Sam Hazeldine) betrayed and killed by the Orcs he calls his children after they fall under Sauron's (Charlie Vickers) control.

In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Brndstrm and Disenhof delve into how they shot Adar's final scene with Galadriel in The Rings of Power's season 2 finale, which comes just before his death. The creatives explain that they mirrored...

Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 finale.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 finale director Charlotte Brndstrm and cinematographer Alex Disenhof explain the new Elven lands featured in the episode. Continuing its story of the rise of Sauron (Charlie Vickers) during the Second Age of Middle-eath, Prime Video's Lord of the Rings series created by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne just concluded its sophomore outing. The Rings of Power's season 2 finale featured a number of big developments, concluding in a new Elven land as Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), Elrond (Robert Aramayo), and Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) plan their next moves.

In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Brndstrm and Disenhof delve into those new Elven locations featured in The Rings of Power's season 2 finale. After the brutal and bloody fall of Eregion, the two creatives explain that it was important...

Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 finale.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power star Charlie Vickers explains why Sauron chooses to spare Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) in the season 2 finale. Created by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, the hit Prime Video Lord of the Rings show returned for its sophomore outing in August, chronicling Sauron's rise to power during the Second Age. Sauron and Galadriel finally face off again in The Rings of Power season 2 finale in an epic duel, before which Sauron tries one last time to get her to join him as a ruler of Middle-earth.

In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Vickers delves into why Sauron didn't immediately kill Galadriel in The Rings of Power's season 2 finale, despite having the opportunity to. According to the actor, Sauron still saw a potential to get Galadriel on-side. After the events of the finale,...

Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 finale.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power star Robert Aramayo teases Elrond's journey to come in a potential season 3. After returning for its sophomore outing in August, Prime Video's Lord of the Rings show created by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne just released its action-packed finale, with Elrond once again playing a key role. Though Eregion is essentially lost in episode 7, The Rings of Power's season 2 finale sees Elrond and Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) lead the surviving citizens to safety, teeing up a continued struggle against Sauron (Charlie Vickers) in the future.

In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Aramayo and Gil-Galad actor Benjamin Walker tease what might be next for Elrond should The Rings of Power season 3 get the green light. According to Aramayo, who is well versed in J.R.R. Tolkien's source material,...

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 stunt coordinator and second unit director Vic Armstrong explains Morfydd Clark's Galadriel evolution. Returning for its sophomore outing last month, Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings series, which hails from creators Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, continues to put Galadriel front and center in the action. In The Rings of Power season 2, Galadriel's quest against Sauron rages once more from season 1, and the Elven warrior remains a major force for change in Middle-earth, both on the battlefield and off.

In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Armstrong touches on how Clark's Galadriel has changed in The Rings of Power season 2, revealing some of the behind-the-scenes filming details. Armstrong shares immense praise for Clark and her physicality as a performer, as well as her positive attitude towards stunts and doing her own action sequences, particularly when it comes to horse riding.

The Rings of Power: Who are the Gaudrim in Season 2? Meet the Dark Wizard's Trackers - Main Image

In a universe filled with elves and hobbits, a new species arises in The Rings of Power's latest season: who are the Gaudrim people in episode 2? We do know one thing: they may not be on the Elven kingdom's side.

Spoiler Warning: This article contains major spoilers for The Rings of Power season 2, so proceed with caution.

Who are the Gaudrim "People" in The Rings of Power S2E2?

The Rings of Power season 2 episode 2, titled Where the Stars are Strange, introduces a masked being answering to the Dark Wizard (played by Ciarán Hinds), which the acolytes described as one of the Dark Wizard's "trackers."

The "trackers" are meant to answer his orders, as they seek something in common with him. The Dark Wizard heard the news of locating the Istar on their trail.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 is off to a great start! The first three episodes were released on Prime Video on Aug. 29. Now, the fourth episode of the season is now streaming, as of Thursday, Sept. 5.

Finally, in the third episode, Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) and Sauron (Charlie Vickers), disguised as Annatar, started making the rings for the Dwarves. It’s called the “Rings of Power” after all, so they should probably get busy.

Elrond and Galadriel set off toward Eregion

In episode 4, the story picks up at the very end of the third episode. Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) have assembled a team to accompany them on their way to Eregion. They believe that Sauron has already returned to influence Celebrimbor, and they’re right!

After traveling for a while from Lindon, they find a bridge on the quickest way to Eregion has...

Warning! Spoilers for Rings of Power season 2, episodes 2 and 3 ahead!

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has brought a Dark Wizard and new leagues of villains to Rhnso who are they, and what does this mean for the ongoing story of the Second Age? This new wizard is something of a mystery since there's so far no clear indication of how he lines up with Tolkien canon. Rhn, in general, is a somewhat under-explored region of Middle-earth, so the Stranger's journey there with Nori is brand new territory for a Lord of the Rings screen adaptation.

Rings of Power season 2, episode 2, "Where the Stars are Strange," sees the Stranger, Nori, and Poppy finally arrive in Rhn, and things quickly begin to fall apart there. The same group of cultists responsible for sending the acolytes in season 1 appeared, led by an ominous wizard with seemingly dark intentions.

The first three episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 are now streaming on Prime Video, and ep 2, "Where the Stars are Strange," introduces a mysterious character who might just turn out to be the secondary antagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy.

We know most of you will be well aware of who we're referring to, but just in case, spoilers follow.

After first catching up with Durin, Disa and the other Dwarves of Khazad-dûm, we find out who sent the masked marauders that have been tracking Nori, Poppy, and the Stranger through the deserts of Western Rhûn: A powerful sorcerer known only as the "Dark Wizard" (Game of Thrones alum Ciarán Hinds).

At first glance, there appears to be little doubt that this clearly wicked individual is Saruman, but there are other possibilities.

Rings of Power has taken a few liberties with certain aspects of Tolkien's works already,...

This article from the Prime Video series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022) Season 2 Episode 2 contains significant spoilers.

This is another standout episode of The Rings of Power that has gotten off to a rip-roaring start. In the second episode of its sophomore season, we find Sauron/Halbrand arriving at the doorstep of the Elvish master craftsman, Celebrimbor. Also, the Stranger and his two hobbit friends, Nori and Poppy, continue their treacherous trek across the Rhûn desert.

However, the most significant plot development in The Rings of Power storyline introduces a new character ruling over the land of Rhûn, a vast region in far-eastern Middle-earth. This character is the Dark Wizard, a new figure introduced by the showrunners, who said the “new character is rooted in the temptations of Gandalf and Saruman in the face of great power.”

Morfydd Clark in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power...

Your browser does not support the video tag. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 brings the rise of Sauron and explores iconic Middle-earth locations like The Black Forest and the Barrow-downs. Characters like Gil-galad and Galadriel face challenges while Sauron manipulates Celebrimbor to create the One Ring. The new season introduces new characters like Ciarn Hinds as the Dark Wizard and Rory Kinnear as Tom Bombadil, promising an epic continuation.

War is coming to Middle-earth as Sauron rises to power in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2. Co-created and co-showrun by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, the Prime Video show is set in the Second Age of J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy universe, exploring the likes of Khazad-dm and Nmenor in their full glory, while also seeing the Elves of Lindon nearing the end of their peaceful existence as their tree of life is dying.

Prime Video has released a first look of Oscar-nominated Irish actor, Ciarán Hinds in his role as ‘Dark Wizard’ for the second series of Prime Video’s ‘Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power.’

In season two, Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without an army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots—as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture,...

Here’s your first look at Ciarán Hinds as Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 playing new character Dark Wizard.

The character is billed as “A dark and powerful wizard, whose origins and intentions are shrouded in secrecy, and who has a legion of magic-wielding acolytes who obey his every command — among them the three travelers who sought out the Stranger at the end of Season 1… on the Dark Wizard’s orders.”

His casting was revealed earlier this year, as Rory Kinnear and Tanya Moodie also joined the cast. At the time, no character descriptions were forthcoming.

Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated for his role in Belfast, Hinds has also starred in films including Munich, There Will Be Blood, In Bruges and Justice League as well as TV series including Game of Thrones and Rome.

Developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, The Lord of the Rings series is...

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power returns for its second season later this month, and Prime Video has now released the first full clip and a new TV spot featuring the return of a character who appeared to be killed-off in the season 1 finale, and our first look at... Saruman?

Of course, any Tolkien fan would almost certainly have been aware that Isildur - the future King of Gondor who ultimately cuts the One Ring from Sauron's hand - wasn't really dead, but his father Elendil and the rest of his people believe he is.

In the clip, we see Isildur and a new character, Estrid, stop to help what appears to be a group of travellers in need before being ambushed by Wild Men. Things look bleak for Isildur, but elven archer Arondir comes to the rescue by unleashing a flurry of arrows into the bandits.

A first clip has been unveiled from Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau’s Nat Geo documentary “Fly,” which will screen at Hot Docs on Sunday.

The doc follows three couples entwined in the world of base jumping, one of the world’s deadliest sports. Schwarz and Clusiau began working on “Fly” for seven years following the death of well-known climber Dean Potter, who lost his life while base jumping at Yosemite National Park.

“We were intrigued by these people who wanted to jump off cliffs with parachutes and wondered about their motivations,” says Schwarz. “We had this idea that maybe (base jumpers) are part of this crazy, reckless death cult or are empty adrenaline seekers, but we quickly found out how amazing they were and how full of life they were. That’s when we started filming.”

The directors chose to follow three couples: Jimmy and Marta, affectionately known as...

In making Fly, their feature documentary about Base jumping, directors Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau spent seven years trying to capture the feeling of whole-heartedly wanting to throw yourself off a cliff.

The doc, which premiered this week at the SXSW Film and TV Festival, takes a look at the sport, which has been maligned for the obvious dangers it imposes on its participants, through the lens of three romantic couples, whose love of Base jumping butts up against the realities of being in love with a partner.

The Base jumping, as seen in Fly, is either jumpers deploying parachutes after leaping from high surfaces (bridges, buildings and cliffs) or using wingsuits (web-sleeved jumpsuits also called squirrel suits), that allow the user to glide down a mountain, sometimes reaching speeds of 200 mph. “Sometimes we would hike hours just to have what’s called the “fly by shot.” You’re spending...