<P> BBC Radio's second adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, from 1981, presents Saruman much as in the books . Smith and Matthews report Peter Howell's performance as Saruman as "brilliantly ambiguous (...), drifting from mellifluous to almost bestially savage from moment to moment without either mood seeming to contradict the other". </P> <P> Saruman is played by Matti Pellonpää in the 1993 television miniseries Hobitit that was produced and aired by Finnish broadcaster Yle . </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> <P> In Jackson's adaptation of the prequel, The Hobbit, Lee reprises his role as Saruman the White, even though Saruman does not appear in the novel . Saruman, Gandalf, Galadriel, and Elrond appear at a meeting of the White Council in Rivendell (loosely based on material from the Appendices), which discusses the mysterious Necromancer encountered by Radagast the Brown . Gandalf believes (correctly) that the Necromancer is Sauron resurgent, but Saruman dismisses this idea . Saruman also disapproves of the quest to reclaim the Dwarf kingdom of Erebor because it will wake the sleeping dragon Smaug, though Gandalf and Galadriel fear that if Sauron reappears, Smaug will join his forces eventually . Gandalf presumed that Saruman would disapprove, so he had Thorin Oakenshield and company leave Rivendell before the council began . In the final film of the trilogy, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Saruman and Elrond accompany Galadriel to Dol Guldur where they engage the resurrected Nazgûl in battle . After dispatching the Ringwraiths, Saruman and Elrond assist as Galadriel uses the power of her Ring to fight Sauron and banishes him from the fortress back to Mordor . Although Elrond insists that they need to hunt down Sauron, Saruman tells him to remain with Galadriel, who is severely weakened after the battle with Sauron, while he takes care of the Dark Lord . </P>

Who plays the evil wizard in lord of the rings