Saruman 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
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a 2001 epic fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson based on the first volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" (1954–1955). It is the first instalment in "The Lord of the Rings series", and was followed by "" (2002) and "" (2003), based on the second and third volumes of "The Lord of the Rings". Set in Middle-earth, the story tells of the Dark Lord Sauron (Sala Baker), who is seeking the One Ring.