The Lord of the Ringsuniverse is expanding, and exciting opportunities will come to further develop Middle-earth’s lore and characters. With that expansion, futureLOTRfilms can capitalize on one largely missed Sauron opportunity.Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans torelease several newLOTRfilms.The first release will bethe animatedThe War of the Rohirrimat the end of 2024, followed byThe Hunt for Gollumin 2026, with a second live-action film planned for a later date. These installments have the opportunity to mature the franchise’s narrow depictions of Sauron.
Peter Jackson most often portrayed Sauron (Sala Baker) in his cinematicThe Lord of The Ringstrilogy as the flaming and ever-watchful eye. InThe Hobbitfilm series, Jackson showed a veiled Sauron (Benedict Cumberbatch) as The Necromancer. This shadowy and vague form eventually came to embody the armored Sauron shown in Jackson’s films. Jackson, more often than not, used abstract depictions to represent the Dark Lord. With Amazon Prime’sThe Rings of Powerfeaturing a nuanced and physical Sauron (Charlie Vickers),newLOTRmovies have grounds to unveil a more complex villain.
Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings Movies Keep Their Distance From Sauron’s Character
He Was First Represented As A Giant Eye
Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Ringsmoviesdistanced themselves from Sauron’s physical embodiment and personality.Jackson chose to keep Sauron’s character detached from Middle-earth, leaning into his symbolism and influencewhile keeping the film’s focus on the One Ring and its sway over the story. Although this approach successfully produced a villain whose mystique alludes to power beyond Gandalf’s (Ian McKellen), it reduces his active involvement in the story. Jackson admits that having Sauron embodied as a giant eye prevented him from participating in the story in any significant way.
Jackson admits that having Sauron embodied as a giant eye prevented him from participating in the story in any significant way.
This take on The Dark Lord was an effective way to exhibit his lack of wholeness during his attempt to reobtain the One Ring that could reinstate his full power. With Tolkien’s Sauron having an intentionally unclear form and never appearing before any of the characters in the book,Jackson was forced to visually remind his audience of the leading antagonist’s presence and threat. There is also little subtlety toSauron’s character in Jackson’s films. Sauron is a force bent on instilling discord, reclaiming the One Ring, and ultimately destroying what is good. Motivations and emotions are excluded from his goal to dominate Middle-earth.
Jackson, inThe Hobbit: The Desolation of SmaugandThe Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, does appear to begin retconning his disembodied representation of Sauron. Jackson shows flames forming the iconic eye, but where the pupil sits, Sauron’s silhouette begins to form, and he reveals his physical body. There are also brief moments where a brightly lit Sauron is shown, possibly alluding to his earlier Maia form.
Warner Bros. New LOTR Movies Can Finally Portray Sauron The Way Tolkien Describes Him
The Shape Of a Large, Strong Man
With Warner Bros. expanding Middle-earth, Sauron can be portrayed as embodied and nuanced, closer to what Tolkien envisioned. Although Tolkien did leave Sauron’s character somewhat vague in hisThe Lord of the Ringsbooks,some specifics about Sauron can be gleaned from Tolkien’s letters and the appendix ofLOTR. It is challenging to visually portray Sauron because, like all the Ainur (the Holy Ones, referring toall the Valar and Maiar), he is capable of taking many forms and is not in a consistent body.
Sauron’s character, according to Tolkien, was not simply attempting to conquer Middle-earth for the sake of power. Sauron was one of Aulë’s (a Valar concerned with rock and metal) until being corrupted by Melkor (Morgoth). Sauron desired order over all else, and he chose to follow Melkor as a means to achieve this yearning. This obsession was so consuming for Sauron that it overcame all other concerns.
In his letters,Tolkien states that Sauron assumed the shape of a large man, but not enormous. He was also a strong and impressive figure. Gollum, when speaking to Frodo in Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Rings, says that Sauron “has only four on the Black Hand,” clearly referencing a Third Age embodied Sauron who carried his wounds from the War of the Last Alliance when Isildur cut off his finger and the One Ring.The Silmarillionmentions Sauron becoming a werewolf, a serpent, and a vampire. Regardless of form, Sauron is an embodied being.
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The eponymous Lord of the Rings is an enigma in the novel and the movies but answers are available in Tolkien lore as to his true nature.
Tolkien did mention the eye imagery personified in Jackson’s filmswith references to the Eye of Mordor, Window of the Eye, Eye of Barad-dûr, and the Great Eye. These references are symbolic though, meant to symbolize Sauron as he looked out an opening in the tower of Barad-dûr, viewing events hundreds of miles away. These are also representations of Sauron’s fierce observation. In the third age, Sauron accepted the Red Eye as an icon to signify his character.
The Rings Of Power Proves What A Compelling Villain Sauron Can Be
A Complete Change From Jackson’s Depiction Of The Villain
Amazon Prime Video’sThe Rings of Powershowswhata captivating and complex character Sauron can be.The Rings of Powerveered from Peter Jackson’s symbolic representation of Sauron, choosing to fully embody him inthe forms of Halbrand, Annatar, an anonymous human (Jack Lowden), and a sentient black substance. Even after Jack Lowden’s Sauron was killed by Adar (Sam Hazeldine) and his orcs, he bleeds out and becomes a physical dark mass, never entirely losing substance. Sauron’s consistent physicality inThe Rings of Powerisa complete change from Jackson’s depiction of the villain.
The Rings of Powertook the eye imagery that Jackson depicted literally and brought it back to its intended form as an analogy. Adar decisively accomplishes this in season 2, episode 6, when talking about Sauron to Galadriel (Morfydd Clark). Adar says that Sauron’s “eye bores a hole while the rest of him slithers in,” signifying Sauron’s masterful ability to manipulate those around him.
IMDB’s Highest Rated Episodes ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
8.7
7.8
Alloyed
7.7
The Rings of Powershaped a more nuanced Sauron than Tolkien or Jackson did. The most poignant moments revealing Sauron’s complexity are during his interactions with Galadriel and Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards). After Sauron reveals his true self to Galadriel and asks her to be his queen, she rejects him, which he receives tearfully. Later,Sauron divulges his identity to Celebrimborand shares his pained origin story wherein he implies being tortured by Morgoth, forcing his servitude and setting him on his current path to attain order and peace. After Celebrimbor also rejects him, Sauron tearfully ends the Elven-smith’s life.
The Rings of Powercreated a far more compelling version of Sauron than has ever been seen.
With the choice to fully embody Sauron and introduce complex emotions and motivations to his character,The Rings of Powercreated a far more compelling version of Sauron than has ever been seen. Even if Sauron’s stories and tears are only meant to manipulate those around him, his choice to employ such complex characteristics adds to his intrigue.
Which Upcoming Lord Of The Rings Movies Sauron Could Show Up In
The Hunt for GollumIs More Likely To Feature The Villain
WithThe War of the Rohirrimreleasing at the end of 2024 andThe Hunt for Gollumcoming in 2026, it’s reasonable to wonder if Tolkien’s lead protagonist will make an appearance in either.Sauron could show his form in both films, butThe Hunt for Gollumis more likely to feature the villain.
The Hunt for Gollumwill involve Gandalf’s sending Aragorn to search for Gollum(Andy Serkis) just before Frodo leaves the Shire with the One Ring. According to Tolkien, around the time of this hunt, Gollum wanders into Mordor and is captured by Sauron. Gollum is then tortured by Sauron and notices the Dark Lord’s missing finger. Eight years after his initial imprisonment, Gollum is finally released from Mordor. This timeframe and Sauron’s direct involvement with the title’s lead character leaves a lot of room for the Dark Lord to appear.
Sauron is less likely to be featured inThe War of the Rohirrim, but it is possible. The film will focus on the war between the Rohirrim and the Dunlendings (later employed by Sarumon in service of Sauron) in the Third Era. Nearly 700 years before this war, The Wise (knowledgeable Elves and Wizards) feared Sauron might be taking shape. One year after the war, Sauron abides in Isengard. There is plenty of room for Sauron to show his face, especially with all the rumors and his future dealings with the Dunlendings.
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The Lord Of The Rings trilogy gave life to J.R.R. Tolkien’s complex and brilliant characters, from Frodo Baggins all the way to Gollum and Gandalf.
With Sauron’s character being reforged byThe Rings of Powerinto a complex and physical being, it is exciting to see how the newLord of the Ringsfilms can continue to make up for the lack of depth originally fashioned by Peter Jackson’s simple and symbolic portrayal of the Dark Lord. Continuing to build a more interesting Sauron is what Middle-earth needs and will hopefully continue to get.
