Two months after the conclusion of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, a wild fan theory about Kemen (Leon Wadham) has continued to pick up steam. Introduced in Season 1 as the arrogant and ambitious noble from Númenor, Kemen also serves as the Mouth of King Al-Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle), speaking on behalf of his dictatorial father.

Reading the tea leaves, fans believe Kemen will eventually devolve from The Mouth of Ar-Pharazôn to the Mouth of Sauron, one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s most lethal lieutenants bolstering Sauron’s army. A few crucial pieces of evidence support the theory, although fans must wait until Season 3 arrives in 2026 to receive definitive answers. With plenty of time to sift through the support, here’s why fans believe Kemen could become The Mouth of Sauron when The Rings of Power returns in 2026.

Who is The Mouth of Sauron in ‘LotR’ Canon?

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The Rings of Power takes story beats from the appendices in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Two Towers, the second novel in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. One of the towers, Barad-dûr, is fiercely guarded by The Mouth of Sauron, described as a living man whose name has been forgotten by all (including himself) and who served as the messenger and spokesperson for Sauron. The Mouth of Sauron is named Lieutenant of Barad-dûr and becomes Sauron’s chief warrior in the War for the Ring.

Beyond the page, The Mouth of Sauron briefly appears in the extended version of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The character is extremely tall and wears black robes, a metal mask, and a helmet atop half his face. This mask and helmet reveal a row of jagged teeth and scars around his mouth, hinting at the monster’s menacing aura.

Despite striking fear into the kingdom, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) beheads The Mouth of Sauron. Yet, given the timeline of events in The Rings of Power and the Mouth of Sauron’s role in protecting Barad-dûr in The Two Towers, it’s feasible that Kemen will become Sauron’s first lieutenant.

Who is Kemen in ‘The Rings of Power’?

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Fabricated for the TV show, Kemen does not originate from Tolkien’s writings. Instead, the new character is introduced as the human son of King Ar-Pharazôn, the 25th monarch of Númenor. Desperate to live up to his father’s image and surpass his royal standing, Kemen ascends to become The Mouth of Pharazôn, speaking on behalf of his father and serving as the king’s messenger. Yet, without personal power to wield, Kemen is left to repeat his father’s orders and dish out directions.

In The Rings of Power Season 2, it is revealed that Kemen’s mother foretold an ominous prophecy on his birthday, saying that he would meet “ill ends.” While such a description could indicate several negative outcomes, fans believe Kemen’s mother foreshadowed his evil fate as The Mouth of Sauron.

As Kemen takes on a more villainous role as the season progresses, it’s easy to trace his wicked devolution as he attempts to make his father proud. Of course, absolute power corrupts absolutely, and many believe Kemen is on a path of pure evil that will eventually reveal his true nature as The Mouth of Sauron.

How Kemen’s Arc Hints at his Role as The Mouth of Sauron, Explained

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The Mouth of Pharazôn, Kemen, has the same role as The Mouth of Sauron, acting as a loyal servant and dutiful herald who speaks and sends messages for his powerful superior. While this shared messenger role isn’t enough to equate Kemen with The Mouth of Sauron alone, the “ill ends” his mother portends, and the timelines of events add more support to the theory.

In Rings of Power Season 2, Kemen becomes more villainous as he demands the Southland forest to be cut down to provide his kingdom with lumber. Despite being a coward unfit for battle and physical combat, Kemen continues to flex his authority, usurping his father’s power and making crucial decisions for him.

Kemen betrays his father’s orders, tries to burn a ship during an expedition, and denies Estrid (Nia Towle) to return to Númenor with Isildur (Maxim Baldry), underscoring his villainous character arc. Although deft maneuvering will be required to turn Kemen into The Mouth of Sauron in The Rings of Power Season 3, the writing appears to be on the wall.

Between his non-literary origin, his human biology, his forgotten name, his preparatory role as the Mouth of Pharazôn, his mother’s ominous warning about suffering “ill ends,” his devious usurpation of his father’s power, and his position as the fiercely loyal protector of Barad-dûr Tower, the circumstantial evidence adds up to support the theory that Kemen will inevitably become The Mouth of Sauron.

The last time Kemen was seen in The Rings of Power Season 2, he remained behind in Southland with Isildur as Estrid and Hagen (Gabriel Akuwudike) returning to Númenor. Meanwhile, Sauron terrorizes the Eregion and advances his army across Middle-earth, setting up an inevitable showdown with the Elves.

As such, it stands to reason that Kemen and Sauron are on a collision course, with the former likely to become the latter’s loyal lieutenant in The Rings of Power Season 3.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.