Who plays Sauron and Annatar in The Rings of Power?

As a devoted fan of J.R.R Tolkien’s Middle-earth saga, I find myself captivated by the enigmatic figures that populate Amazon’s “The Rings of Power”. Among these intriguing characters, three stand out as particularly compelling: Daniel Weyman’s The Stranger, Joseph Mawle’s Adar, and Bridie Sisson’s The Dweller.

As a die-hard Middle-earth fan, I can’t help but feel a shiver run down my spine at the thought of Sauron making his grand comeback in The Rings of Power season 2! And it seems that Charlie Vickers’s chilling portrayal of this villain will be gracing our screens once more, taking on various forms to stir up trouble. Can’t wait to see the chaos unfold!

In simpler terms, it was revealed in the final episode of The Rings of Power’s first season that the character Halbrand, portrayed by Vickers, turned out to be Sauron – the Dark Lord who had been secretly influencing and deceiving Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) for a long period.

Although it may seem that his manipulative tactics have come to an end, they are far from over as we delve into season 2. Here, Sauron plans to exploit the unsuspecting elf Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) for his purposes – to forge additional Rings of Power and ultimately gain control over every creature in Middle-earth.

In doing this, he takes on a new form, as Annatar, also known as the Lord of Gifts. But, as Celebrimbor asserts in the trailer, which appears to show him realise Sauron’s true form, not every gift is well-received.

In this article, we’ll discuss the latest information available regarding Sauron (or Annatar) in The Rings of Power season 2, as well as the talented actor, Charlie Vickers, who portrays him.

Who is Sauron in The Rings of Power?

In the world of The Rings of Power, Sauron serves as the principal adversary with an ambitious goal: to gain dominion over Middle-earth, a mission he pursues by manipulating the thoughts and actions of Elves, Dwarves, and Men.

To accomplish this task, as suggested by Galadriel in the season 2 teaser, it’s not about having large armies, but rather possessing the Rings of Power that hold the true power.

As any Tolkien fan knows, Sauron has many names and forms. So far, Sauron has taken the form of:

Halbrand, a blacksmith and companion of Galadriel
Annatar, an Elf who encourages Celebrimbor to create the Rings of Power

Who plays Sauron and Annatar in The Rings of Power?

It’s yet unknown if he has the ability to transform into additional forms, but we’re open to the possibility.

Among the timelessly renowned literary antagonists, Sauron, often referred to as the Dark Overlord, has exerted significant control over the realm of Mordor within the world of Middle-Earth for extended periods.

Originally known as Mairon, Sauron was among the spiritual beings called the Maiar, fashioned prior to his allegiance with the malevolent figure Morgoth and turning against their creator.

Before succumbing to evil, Mairon, who later became known as Sauron, sought to understand the craftsmanship of Aule, the Blacksmith among the Valar, by studying him closely. He also worked undercover, spying on the Valar’s residence in Valinor.

In the epic battle of the First Age, Sauron held the position of Morgoth’s top commander. However, after Morgoth’s downfall, Sauron managed to elude capture. Later on, he took over as the secondary ruler of darkness, known as the Second Dark Lord.

Who plays Sauron and Annatar in The Rings of Power?

In Tolkien’s mythos, Sauron disguised himself as the captivating elf Annatar, also known as “The Lord of Gifts,” and collaborated with Celebrimbor in crafting the Rings of Power. However, his true identity was revealed when he forged the “One Ring to Rule Them All.”

In the Second Age, the devastating war that ensued was triggered by Sauron’s role in the fall of Numenor. Later, Sauron met his defeat at the hands of The Last Alliance, a united force of Men and Elves. It was Isildur, son of Elendil, who severed the ring from Sauron’s finger during this decisive battle.

In the beginning of the movie The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the character was initially seen in his real form. Later on throughout the entire trilogy, he was depicted as a spectral, flaming “Eye of Sauron” without a physical body.

In Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Hobbit trilogy, the character known as the Dark Lord manifested as a sinister figure. He made appearances in both “The Desolation of Smaug” and “The Battle of the Five Armies.” During these films, he was portrayed as the Necromancer within Dol Guldur, although his true persona remained concealed until later. Notably, Benedict Cumberbatch lent his voice to Sauron in these particular scenes.

What will happen to Sauron/Annatar in The Rings of Power season 2?

He stated: “He must adapt and seek a different path towards his goal, which involves reconnecting with Celebrimbor, whom he met at the end of the first season. His objective is to persuade Celebrimbor to aid him in forging some rings. These rings symbolize an idea that he possesses power not just physically, but over the physical realm, and this power would be utilized to heal Middle Earth. Previously, his focus was on Galadriel, but it has now shifted towards Celebrimbor.”

Absolutely, in season 2, we’ll see Vickers portraying an entirely fresh take on Sauron, this time as Annatar, the Deceiver, or the Lord of Gifts.

He shared his thoughts on modifying certain aspects to better reflect the noble and just image of the Annatar character as envisioned by Tolkien. He emphasized that these qualities should be understood in a way that aligns with Tolkien’s description of him being very regal and fair.

Instead of depicting a character who is just ordinary, I aimed to create one with immense wisdom and strength. Among Elven blacksmiths, Celebrimbor stands out as the greatest, making him an ideal candidate for such a role. There’s also Annatar, someone who can communicate with him and exert influence. To convey this character’s weight and importance, I adjusted my speech patterns and mannerisms. Additionally, I wanted to ensure that this character differs significantly from Halbrand.

Edwards, portraying Celebrimbor, commented on the dynamic between his character and Annatar, stating it as “deeply intense” and “tormented”.

Who plays Sauron/Annatar in The Rings of Power?

In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the character Sauron/Annatar is played by Australian actor Charlie Vickers.

At the end of The Rings of Power’s first season, Galadriel found out that she had been tricked by Sauron when she encountered Halbrand. Later, she came to believe that Halbrand was indeed the true ruler of the Southlands.

It was discovered later on that the royal line from which this figure hails is extinct, and Halbrand was actually a clever ruse devised by Sauron.

In the end, the Dark Overlord proposed a partnership to Galadriel, making her his queen, but she declined. Eventually, he fled to Mordor during the final act.

Previously, Vickers has made appearances on screen; in the movie “Palm Beach” and the TV show “Medici”, where he played the role of Guglielmo Pazzi.

Who did people think was playing Sauron in The Rings of Power? Previous theories on the Lord of the Rings villain

Charlie Vickers

In the early scenes of The Rings of Power, a character known as Charlie Vickers was presented as the dashing figure called Halbrand.

In my own words, I’d describe it like this: Sailing the Sundering Seas, I find myself alongside the enigmatic Galadriel. A terrifying sea monster and tempestuous storms threaten our voyage, but we persevere together, forming an unbreakable bond.

It becomes clear that Halbrand has a dark past and Galadriel encourages him to move on from it.

Nevertheless, speculation arose suggesting that Halbrand could be Sauron, backed by some compelling proof.

In the third installment, it seemed clear that Halbrand was revealed as a potential successor to the throne of the Southlands, a man who had left his homeland in search of a fresh start.

Yet, Halbrand clarified that he wasn’t the “champion” Galadriel was searching for to confront Sauron. It might have been wiser if she had paid closer attention.

Indeed, in the end, it was Charlie Vickers who was portraying Sauron.

Daniel Weyman

At the finale of the inaugural episode, an intriguing character known as “The Newcomer” makes his arrival on Middle-earth, descending from a fiery meteor of crimson hue.

It’s evident that the individuals known as Nori Brandyfoot and Poppy Proudfellow, who found him, believe this person to be a magical being with a unique role. However, the exact nature of his purpose remains unclear.

In an unusual twist, the sequence introduced a false lead by presenting a decoy clue when the trio of enchantresses from Rhûn pursued The Stranger, referring to him as “Lord Sauron”.

Instead, it turned out that he wasn’t the Dark Lord after all; his true identity was hinted at through convincing evidence presented during the final scene.

Joseph Mawle

Actor Joseph Mawle, known for his role in Game of Thrones, joins the cast of The Rings of Power as the adversarial figure called Adar.

In the third installment of The Rings of Power, we first encountered Adar. He was portrayed as an Elf who had fallen from grace, commanding a band of Orcs and wreaking havoc across the Southlands with sinister intentions.

Multiple characters – and viewers – wondered if he could have been Sauron himself.

In the fourth episode, Adar openly expresses his disappointment towards the Elves, stating that they’ve been peddling falsehoods.

As I march my Orcish horde forward, I find myself undergoing a metamorphosis, and I’m on the hunt for a potent artifact to wield as my weapon of choice.

In reality, the sixth installment revealed a deep-seated animosity between Adar and Sauron, with Adar going so far as to assert that he had divided Sauron into separate parts.

The future of their relationship has yet to be determined.

Bridie Sisson

Despite many speculating from trailers that her character was portrayed by actor Anson Boon, executive producer Lindsey Weber later told TIME that Bridie Sisson was the person portraying this enigmatic figure.

Furthermore, Weber hinted at Sisson’s part: “The buzz online is fun, and we can confirm that Bridie Sisson is a remarkable actress.”

As a dedicated admirer, I couldn’t help but share this exciting tidbit: Her captivating character embarks on a journey across vast distances, venturing all the way to the eastern realms – the mystical lands of Rhûn.

Readers familiar with Tolkien’s work recognize that the Easterlings hail from Rhûn, and according to his tales, Sauron has previously ventured into this region and even mobilized its inhabitants as his allies, leading their armies.

At the time when the show premiered, it became known that Sisson would portray a character named The Dweller. This character was on a quest for someone known as The Stranger, whom he believed to be Sauron.

However, The Dweller and her companions were proven wrong.

2024-08-27 18:05