<P> In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies, three of the Istari are featured as characters: Saruman (portrayed by Christopher Lee), Gandalf (played by Ian McKellen), and Radagast (portrayed by Sylvester McCoy). Gandalf mentions the two Blue Wizards in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, but comments that he cannot recall their names; this is a reference to the fact that they went unnamed in both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings . In The Hobbit films, it is Radagast who first discovers the presence of the Necromancer at Dol Guldur, and alerts Gandalf who in turn informs the White Council, including Saruman . Gandalf is quick to deduce the Necromancer's true identity, but Saruman is reluctant to accept that Sauron could have returned . At the behest of Galadriel, Gandalf and Radagast meet at the tomb of the Nine Kings of Men, and then travel to Dol Guldur . Radagast is then sent to take word to the White Council while Gandalf enters Dol Guldur alone, where he confronts and is captured by Sauron . The White Council arrived in force to rescue him, with Saruman, Elrond, and Galadriel confronting the evil there while Radagast took Gandalf to safety . Saruman later forbade pursuit of Sauron, feeling that their foe would never be able to rise again, while Gandalf and Radagast later took part in The Battle of the Five Armies . </P> <P> As in the novels, Saruman later joined forces with Sauron, though he retained his white robes and was not shown to be seeking the One Ring for his own use . He and Gandalf are the only wizards featured or mentioned in the Lord of the Rings films, and for the most part go through the same experiences as in the novels . However, as seen in the extended edition of The Return of the King, Saruman is killed by Wormtongue atop Orthanc rather than in The Shire . The films place a greater emphasis on the connection between the Wizards' powers being manifested through their staffs: Gandalf and Saruman are visibly seen employing their staffs in their battle inside Orthanc, and Gandalf is rendered helpless when Saruman takes his staff from him . In a departure from the books, Gandalf's staff is shattered during his confrontation with the Witch - king . </P>

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