The Rings of Power is getting ever closer to the potential reveal of who will become the future Nazgûl as the nine rings of men are being constructed. Since Prime Video’s show needs to stay away from any lore that isn’t mentioned in the original The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, many creative licenses are being made throughout the series. This creative license also means the nine rings may just end up in the hands of those we least expect.

Of course, The Lord of the Rings trilogy implies that nine rings were given to the leaders of men, which would imply every single wraith must be of high status at the very least. However, it could be interpreted that the nine rings were meant for kings of men but didn’t necessarily end up in all of their hands. This is the most likely route The Rings of Power may take to stir the pot and make audiences wonder who could currently become one of the nine Nazgûl. These speculative guesses have been sorted from least likely to most likely, judging from how far-fetched they’d be from the source material.

Ar-Pharazôn’s Original Tale May Change To Make Him A Nazgûl

Ar-Pharazôn originally dies when Eru is called to protect Valinor, and they break the world apart, sinking the Númenorian fleet.
It’s often said that The Nine Ringwraiths were kings of men, so this vague description could lead to a rewrite as Ar-Pharazôn becoming one.

It doesn’t seem like a very likely happenstance, since many fans are aware Ar-Pharazôn was on a ship near Valinor during the breaking of the world. However, The Rings of Power has done so much blending and juggling of timelines and characters that it is somewhat possible they may make him seem like he died there, but then mysteriously shows up in Middle-earth, already turned and unrecognizable.

This wouldn’t be the worst way to convert him, since he would technically die in Númenor then be reborn a Nazgûl through the heavy corruptive power of a ring he is given. Considering how far-gone he is in his ambitious lust, it wouldn’t be as far-fetched as it initially seems.

Eärien’s Betrayal Could Put The “Witch” In Witchking

Eärien is an apprentice in the builder’s guild of Númenor.
Her rise in the ranks could lead to her becoming an architect of Gondor in the future.

Eärien, Elendil’s traitorous daughter, could be a potential candidate that not many would expect, but could make sense. In the same way Durin III gatekept the Dwarven rings in exchange for a heavy tribute from the Dwarven Lords, whoever first comes in contact with the nine rings of power may be privy to intercepting one for themselves or choosing who receives the rest. Although she is more of a pawn in Ar-Pharazôn’s political game, her loyalty may just lead to further ascension. If this happens, perhaps she may even be given a position that leads her to Middle-earth, something Ar-Pharazôn or Kemen would happily do to spite Elendil.

Should she be a go-between liaison for men and elves, she could very well end up in possession of one of the rings, and perhaps coveting it for herself once she realizes her futility in the games her so-called benefactors are playing. This could be a fun way to imply why in The Return of the King film the Witchking says “No man can kill me.”

Theo’s Grief Could Push Him Past The Point Of No Return

Theo’s mother died of her wounds sustained during the battle of The Rings of Power season 1.
It is heavily-implied that Arrondir could likely be Theo’s father.

The tragic and uneasy tale of Theo has created quite a stir and plenty of speculation among audiences of The Rings of Power, especially surrounding the broken blade with Sauron’s mark that Theo had. Considering the horrid and isolating circumstances the death of his mother would have on him at such a young age, it’s clear that his turn away from those who care about him could be a clue-in to his descent into seeking power in order to make things “right”.

Theo is becoming so far-gone from his innocence and goodness as he becomes more rash and eager to take control of his circumstances even at the potential expense of himself and others, a path that could easily descend into his own corruption.

Brânk Could Be A Proxy for Khamûl

It is likely that the Wizard controlling the territories in Rhûn is one of the two Blue Wizards.
Although created for The Rings of Power, the Gaudrim may be the original peoples corrupted by Sauron that would later become his Easterling servants.

The mysterious Gaudrim from Rhûn already feel like a deadly and ranging tribe of cultish warriors when they are introduced in season 2 of The Rings Of Power. Their stealthy presence and covered faces, let-alone their loyalty to a dark sorcerer pulling the strings in the territory seemed like a recipe for corruptive disaster from the get-go.

The leader of these riders, named Brânk, was giving the energy of another leader of the East who eventually fell into Sauron’s lap of power, Khamûl.Khamûl was an Easterling leader who was eventually gifted a ring and became one of Sauron’s trusted Lieutenants before falling into darkness as the second most powerful Nazgûl of the nine.

Kemen is One Piece of Jewellery Away From A Nazgûl Power-Trip

Kemen is a character created for The Rings of Power series, yet in Tolkien’s lore, Ar-Pharazôn was said to have no children at all.
Kemen recently killed Valandil and framed Elendil for treason in The Rings of Power season 2.

After his horrid arrest and framing of Elendil in Númenor, it’s clear Kemen’s thirst for power greater than he can manage himself is something he would happily embrace, only to realize all-too-late that it will be his downfall. Narratively, he is a character made up for The Rings of Power, which means he may easily be given some leave to become a leader in Middle-earth during Ar-Pharazôn’s campaigns. Ar-Pharazôn could likely grant him a crown after their battles with Sauron and a ring easily placed in his possession, to mark the beginning of his end.