Halbrand's hidden identity as Sauron revealed in the season finale - Interview with Charlie Vickers

The finale of the first season of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" ended with an unexpected twist. It turns out that Halbrand, the mysterious arrival from the Southlands, is Sauron, the villain trying to manipulate his surroundings for his purposes. The second season, available on Prime Video since August 29, focuses on the fate of Halbrand/Sauron. We talked to Charlie Vickers, the actor playing this role.

The show's creators managed to deceive the viewers because, in Tolkien's books, Sauron appeared as Annatar. Introducing Halbrand into the series cleverly disrupted Tolkien fans' expectations, though not all of them. The second season, accessible on Prime Video since August 29, centers on the fate of Halbrand/Sauron. He is the main character. In an interview conducted during Comic-Con in San Diego, Charlie Vickers, who plays Halbrand/Sauron, says: "The worst part was that I had to stay silent about it throughout the entire promotional tour for the first season. When the series began airing, viewers started suspecting something. They began asking me outright if I was Sauron. And each time, I had to make something up, which wasn't very comfortable. My family knew, so whenever someone close to me got asked if Charlie was really playing Sauron, they, too, had to improvise!"

You had to keep it a secret throughout the first season that your character is actually Sauron, the greatest villain in Tolkien's works. Was it difficult to keep your mouth shut?

Charlie Vickers: Very difficult! The worst part was that I had to stay silent throughout the entire first season promotional tour. When the series began airing, viewers started suspecting something. They began asking me outright if I was Sauron. And each time, I had to make something up, which wasn't very comfortable.

Did you tell anyone the truth?

My family knew, so whenever someone close to me got asked if Charlie was really playing Sauron, they, too, had to improvise! (laughs)

I'm wondering if you knew from the beginning who your character was?

No, it was a discovery for me too. I only found out at the beginning of working on the first season's third episode. The show's creators, J.D. and Patrick, called me into their office for a serious conversation. I didn't suspect what it could be about because we had a break due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many of us stayed in New Zealand and didn't return to our home countries. I thought it was about some production issues. JD and Patrick were very serious. They looked at me and almost simultaneously said, "Okay, now we're going to tell you." And they took me to the set to show me where my real home was.

How did you react?

I thought maybe I wouldn't be the nicest guest, but I would play someone truly exceptional. I kept repeating to myself: "Cool, cool, cool!" Besides, I like surprises. When I found out I was going to be Sauron, I felt relieved because it confirmed what I had only suspected. I feel really privileged. I don't feel the pressure of playing such a significant character, only the excitement and joy of telling this story and trying my hand at this role.

Aren't you afraid that now the fans won't support you anymore?

I think there's something about bad guys that attracts people. Besides, can we really not root for Sauron just because he's evil? We've gotten to know him a bit, we know what drives him. If we didn't know he was Sauron, would it be okay to support him? I'm curious to see how viewers will approach this character in the second season.

So far, fans of the series have been teasing you online that you returned to Eregion with a new hairstyle and no one recognizes you...

That's also because Galadriel hasn't admitted her discovery to anyone. Other characters don't know that Halbrand is actually Sauron. Galadriel keeps silent because she feels great shame and doesn't know how to deal with it. She blames herself because she believes it's her fault that Sauron safely settled in Eregion since she helped and introduced him among everyone. The other residents don't really pay much attention to my character. They think, "This is probably the guy who was here a few months ago," but they don't go into details. The change in my appearance was more about being able to manipulate someone again. I might sound a bit mysterious, but anyone who watches the second season will understand what I'm referring to. I'll just say that I look a bit like I've come from "House of the Dragon," where there are characters with gray hair.

Did you feel differently on the set of the second season? Did you have to reinvent your character? Give him new features?

Definitely, now my character's motives are much clearer, and they are key to creating a character. At the beginning of the second season, Halbrand is the same person we saw at the end of the first series. But his transformation into Sauron progresses, and his goal becomes increasingly clear and visible. To achieve it, he will try to use a certain individual. He will have to think about what kind of being would gain Celebrimbor's respect, the greatest elven blacksmith in Middle-earth's history. What's the answer? Well, someone as cool and iconic as Barack Obama, someone everyone respects. Only it has to be Barack Obama, not from America but from Middle-earth.

Would you vote for him if he ran for a third presidential term?

One hundred percent yes. If only it were possible...

Charles Edwards plays Celebrimbor. How did you build your relationship?

Both of us were extremely excited to tell this story. We were happy when the day to go on set was approaching. In the first season, where our stories were heading, it was still veiled. Now, we could say more outright. And we both couldn't wait. We loved coming to work every day. We shot chronologically; there was no jumping between storylines like often happens when filming movies and series. So, everything followed one another, and our excitement grew. The set was amazing too because we filmed in a gigantic forge specially prepared for the production. Essentially, we spent most of our time there, just the two of us, maybe with a few elves working there as well. Sometimes, a dwarf or two would drop by. But because we spent so much time playing alone together, the chemistry between us developed naturally. I think it comes from the passion we both have for what we do. We were really excited and happy to be telling such an important storyline from Tolkien's works.

Why does Halbrand succeed in manipulating Celebrimbor? Is it a question of his ego?

I think so. In the first season, we saw him as both an ambitious and ambivalent character. Charles Edwards at least tried very hard to make that clear because now it's of great significance. And Tolkien told us about him, that he wanted to compete with the fame and skills of his very famous grandfather. He always sought a project that would elevate his name to the top and put it on a brass plaque somewhere. He desires fame, so he has an ego problem. Sauron sees that and immediately exploits it.