In an exclusive interview with India Today, Charlie Vickers opened up about his role as the Dark Lord Sauron in the eagerly awaited second season of *Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power*. Set to premiere on August 29 on Prime Video, the new season is poised to delve deeper into the complex evolution of Sauron, offering fans a more intricate understanding of the character’s transformation and ascent to power.
In Season 2, Vickers will portray Sauron through three distinct phases. The journey begins with his introduction as the Stranger in the first season, progresses through his role as Halbrand, and culminates with his appearance as Annatar. This multifaceted portrayal is crucial to the season's narrative, as it explores how Sauron evolves from a seemingly benign figure into the menacing dark force that is central to the lore of Middle-earth.
Discussing the challenges and intricacies of his role, Vickers reflected on the difficulties of maintaining secrecy about his character. The actor recounted the pressure he felt to keep his role under wraps, especially from his family. "It was very difficult because everyone kept guessing during season one who is Sauron? I remember telling my mum, but I didn't tell my dad, and he kept asking quite persistently. I think she kept it quite under wraps because I kind of really made sure she didn't tell anyone because it was intense. I felt a huge pressure to not tell anyone. It's a huge deal. We didn't want the information to be leaked,” Vickers said.
Vickers also discussed the transformative nature of his role, expressing his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to showcase Sauron’s evolution. He said, "I loved the transformative aspect of doing this because I feel very privileged and lucky to be able to do this at this stage of my career. I get to do roles where you can really use prosthetics and utilize the things you train for as an actor. Different ways of moving, different ways of speaking, and there's lots of techniques.” He elaborated on the challenge of maintaining a consistent portrayal across different forms of Sauron, noting that while the character undergoes various changes, he still represents the same core essence and ambition. "To be able to utilize it so early on such a show of this scale has been amazing. And I think the real challenge has been maintaining a core standard line between all these different forms of Sauron because ultimately it still is Sauron, and he wants the same thing. So that's been a real challenge, but also a huge gift,” Vickers added.
The upcoming season of *The Rings of Power* promises to be a significant chapter in the epic saga, offering fans a deeper dive into Sauron’s dark journey and the broader lore of Middle-earth. With Vickers’ nuanced portrayal and the series’ ambitious storytelling, viewers can anticipate a captivating continuation of the legendary tale that has enchanted audiences worldwide.
