The official trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has LOTR fans wondering if Sauron will appear in the animated feature film. In particular, one moment at the end of the trailer suggests that Middle-earth’s second Dark Lord might appear. The scene in question features an orc who’s collecting rings in a pouch and muttering, “What does Mordor want with rings?” Directed by Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), The War of the Rohirrim is an anime film based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

The War of the Rohirrim is set 183 years before the events of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movies, so it serves as a precursor to Frodo’s journey to destroy the One Ring. Nonetheless, the film is expected to have plenty of references to the LOTR trilogy. For example, Miranda Otto, who plays Rohan’s shieldmaiden Éowyn in The Two Towers and The Return of the King, narrates the film. Although The War of the Rohirrim‘s cast of characters hasn’t been fully revealed, it’s possible that Sauron, LOTR’s core antagonist, will make a fleeting appearance in the project.

Sauron Is Looking For The One Ring In LOTR: War Of The Rohirrim

The Orc’s Line Confirms That The Dark Lord Is Already Searching For The One Ring

In addition to being the feminist story LOTR actually needs, War of the Rohirrim teased Sauron’s quest to track down the One Ring. While some fans might be stuck wondering what War of the Rohirrim means, others are diving deeper into the anime prequel’s possibilities. Given the orc’s line in the trailer about Mordor — Sauron’s seat of power — searching Middle-earth for rings, it seems likely that the plot point will surface amid the tale of Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox). As LOTR makes clear, Sauron will stop at nothing to rebuild his power and obtain the One Ring.

The former chief lieutenant of Morgoth, Sauron reappears in the Second Age. Intent on conquering Middle-earth himself, a disguised Sauron befriends Celebrimbor’s Elven-smiths of Eregion, convincing them to forge the Rings of Power. In secret, Sauron forges the One Ring — the one to rule all others. This, of course, gives way to the War of the Last Alliance. As portrayed in Jackson’s films, Isildur cuts the One Ring from Sauron’s hand, but doesn’t destroy it. This leads to Gollum’s time with the One Ring, Bilbo’s discovery of it, and, finally, Frodo’s quest to destroy the corrupting object.

Sauron Could Make A Cameo Appearance In War Of The Rohirrim

The LOTR Prequel Could Strengthen Its Ties To The Trilogy By Teasing Sauron’s Return

After Isildur loses the One Ring, it becomes clear that it wants to return to its creator. However, Sauron spends thousands of years as a shapeless, dormant evil. As he amasses power and builds his army, Sauron — from his seat of power — searches for the One Ring. While The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim focuses more on Rohan’s legendary king, Helm Hammerhand, other LOTR tie-ins, such as the upcoming Gollum movie, are more clearly linked to Sauron’s story. However, a Sauron cameo would certainly strengthen the connective tissue between the various LOTR projects.

Sauron’s Status During War Of The Rohirrim Explained

The Dark Lord Is Quietly Rebuilding His Power During The Events Of The Anime Movie

The canonical Lord of the Rings timeline shows that Sauron is alive during The War of the Rohirrim, though he’s certainly not at the height of his influence. Instead, the Dark Lord is quietly rebuilding his power and army, all while sending agents to search for the One Ring. With The War of the Rohirrim taking place thousands of years after The Rings of Power‘s story, and just 183 years before The Lord of the Rings, Gollum is in possession of the One Ring during the events of the anime film, so any Sauron cameo would be minor.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is slated to premiere in theaters on December 13, 2024.