The first four episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 are now streaming on Prime Video, and episode 3 finally confirms the identity of the sinister Dark Wizard.
If you haven't watched yet, spoilers follow.
Early on during season 2, we found out who sent the masked marauders that had been tracking Nori, Poppy, and the Stranger (now confirmed to be Gandalf) through the deserts of Western Rhûn: A powerful sorcerer played by Game of Thrones alum Ciarán Hinds.
Many assumed that this clearly wicked individual was Saruman, but there was also speculation that he might be one of the Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando. Very little is written about these characters, but Tolkien said that these "others of the Istari went into the east of Middle-earth, and do not come into these tales."
Leaving the geographic inconsistencies aside, depicting either of these guys in a villainous light seemed like an odd choice, but sure enough, Hinds is playing Pallando - whose lust for power ultimately led to him murdering Alatar.
"The idea of Blue Wizards who went east is such a tantalizing piece of the lore," co-showrunner Patrick McKay told Radio Times. "It was one of the first things we talked about wanting to explore in the show – reaching that moment and figuring out who they were, what they were about, what happened to them, and his eventual fate."
New cast members include Eddie Marsan (Clayface) as King Durin IV’s older brother, Thrain; Andrew Richardson (Guys & Dolls) as Elendil’s younger son and Isildur’s brother, Anarion; and Adam Young (Don’t Breathe 2) as Marnûkh, who is described as “a mysterious Orc who may not be what he seems.”
The Boys and Shawn of the Dead star Simon Pegg will voice the Balrog.
"Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without 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 1’s epic scope and ambition, Season 2 of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power 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, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all.. each other."
Returning cast members include Morfydd Clark, Benjamin Walker, Charles Edwards, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Nazanin Boniadi, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Tyroe Muhafidin, Maxim Baldry, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Owain Arthur, Trystan Gravelle, Ema Horvath, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Leon Wadham, Daniel Weyman, and Sara Zwangobani.