<P> In Peter Jackson 's film trilogy ( 2001 -- 2003 ) , Saruman is significantly more active in the first two films than in their equivalent books , and he appears in several scenes that are not depicted in Tolkien 's work . In the films , Saruman is depicted presenting himself outright as a servant of Sauron. Smith and Matthews suggest that Saruman 's role is built up as a substitute for Sauron -- the story 's main antagonist -- who never appears directly in the book . Jackson confirms this view in the commentary to the DVD . They also suggest that having secured veteran British horror actor Christopher Lee to play Saruman , it made sense to make greater use of his star status . Despite this increased role in the first two films , the scenes involving Saruman that were shot for use in the third film , The Lord of the Rings : The Return of the King , were not used in the cinematic release , a decision which `` shocked '' Lee . Jackson reasoned that it would be anticlimactic to show Saruman 's fate in the second movie ( after the Battle of Helm 's Deep ) and too retrospective for it to be in the third one . The cut scenes end with Saruman falling to his death from the top of Orthanc after being stabbed by Wormtongue and include material from the chapter The Scouring of the Shire . They are included at the start of the Extended Edition DVD release of the film . </P>
<P> In Peter Jackson 's film trilogy ( 2001 -- 2003 ) , Saruman is significantly more active in the first two films than in their equivalent books , and he appears in several scenes that are not depicted in Tolkien 's work . In the films , Saruman is depicted presenting himself outright as a servant of Sauron. Smith and Matthews suggest that Saruman 's role is built up as a substitute for Sauron -- the story 's main antagonist -- who never appears directly in the book . Jackson confirms this view in the commentary to the DVD . They also suggest that having secured veteran British horror actor Christopher Lee to play Saruman , it made sense to make greater use of his star status . Despite this increased role in the first two films , the scenes involving Saruman that were shot for use in the third film , The Lord of the Rings : The Return of the King , were not used in the cinematic release , a decision which `` shocked '' Lee . Jackson reasoned that it would be anticlimactic to show Saruman 's fate in the second movie ( after the Battle of Helm 's Deep ) and too retrospective for it to be in the third one . The cut scenes end with Saruman falling to his death from the top of Orthanc after being stabbed by Wormtongue and include material from the chapter The Scouring of the Shire . They are included at the start of the Extended Edition DVD release of the film . </P>
who plays the evil wizard in lord of the rings
who plays the evil wizard in lord of the rings
Christopher Lee
Christopher Lee