The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 trailer
Ciaran Hinds, the latest addition to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, has been revealed as a formidable Dark Wizard in anticipation of the Prime Video fantasy series' return.
The Northern Irish actor, aged 71, is best known for his roles as gangster Eamon Cunningham in Kin; Mance Rayder in Game of Thrones; Aberforth Dumbledore in Harry Potter, and Fletcher Hamilton in There Will Be Blood.
His new character is a quintessential JRR Tolkien creation, complete with a thick flowing beard, penetrating eyes, a magical staff, and white robes.
An official synopsis reveals: "It turns out, the mysterious being known as the Stranger is not the only wizard who has come to Middle-earth... for in the mysterious lands of Rhun, another wizard awaits him.
"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 travellers who sought out the Stranger at the end of Season 1... on the Dark Wizard's orders."
While the Dark Wizard's identity remains under wraps for now, fans of The Rings of Power speculate that he could be the next incarnation of Saruman, previously portrayed by the late Christopher Lee in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films.
"Please tell me I am not the only one who sees the similarities in design and look of Ciaran Hind's character, who is also a wizard, to a certain character played by Sir Christopher Lee," commented one Reddit user, reports the Mirror.
Fans have shared theories that Ciaran Hinds could portray a younger Saruman in The Rings of Power series. "Ciaran Hinds as a younger version of Saruman. His facial look is very similar to Christopher Lee version of Saruman. Just different age and hair colour" and "So sounds like Meteor Man is Gandalf then and Ciaran is Saruman? If he's wearing white he's not a blue wizard," were two speculative comments circulating around the internet.
Despite his role on the Small Council during two of the three Hobbit epic films, it's Lee's depiction of Saruman the White which left an enduring mark on fans due to his infamous activities in The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, notably joining Sauron's cause and cultivating armies of orcs and Uruk-hai with the aim of terminating mankind.
The second season of The Rings of Power offers a compelling synopsis: "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."
The Rings of Power returns to Amazon Prime Video on August 29.
