Editing Nazgûl (section)

== Adaptations ==

=== Films ===

[[File:LOTR78 beds Bree.JPG|thumb|left|The Nazgûl hacking and slashing at the hobbits' beds in the ''Prancing Pony'' inn at [[Bree (Middle-earth)|Bree]], in [[Ralph Bakshi]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|1978 animated film version]]]]

The Nazgûl are featured in [[Adaptations of The Lord of the Rings|adaptations of ''The Lord of the Rings'']] on radio, film, and stage. In [[Ralph Bakshi]]'s 1978 animated film version of ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|The Lord of the Rings]]'', the Nazgûl "shamble and limp like zombies".<ref>{{cite web |last=Gilkeson |first=Austin |title=Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings Brought Tolkien from the Counterculture to the Big Screen |url=https://www.tor.com/2018/11/13/ralph-bakshis-the-lord-of-the-rings-brought-tolkien-from-the-counterculture-to-the-big-screen/ |website=TOR |access-date=20 May 2020 |date=13 November 2018 |quote=Bakshi's Nazgûl shamble and limp like zombies, giving them a truly creepy feeling. Understandably unsettled, the hobbits decide to skip Buckland—and also the Old Forest, Tom Bombadil's house, and the Barrow-downs—and head straight to The Prancing Pony in Bree.}}</ref> They hack and slash the Hobbits' beds at ''The Prancing Pony'' inn, whereas Tolkien does not identify the assailants.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 1, ch. 10, "Strider"}}</ref>

[[File:Nazgul.PNG|thumb|upright=0.6|A Nazgûl portrayed in [[Peter Jackson]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy]]]]

In the [[Rankin-Bass]] adaptation of [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'']], the Nazgûl are robed skeletons with white hair. They ride winged horses, although the Witch-king rides a creature more in line with the book when he confronts Éowyn.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gilkeson |first=Austin |title=Middle-earth's Weirdest film: Rankin-Bass' Animated The Return of the King |url=https://www.tor.com/2019/04/24/middle-earths-weirdest-film-rankin-bass-animated-the-return-of-the-king/ |website=TOR |access-date=20 May 2020 |date=24 April 2019 |quote=Now, I should add that while eight of the nine Nazgûl are skeletons with beautiful heads of white hair riding on flying horses, the Witch-king is more traditionally invisible. ... The Witch-king does finally appear, riding a decently dragonish fell beast rather than a Pegasus.}}</ref> The 1981 [[BBC Radio]] serial of ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'' has the Nazgûl chant the [[Ring-inscription]] in the Black Speech of Mordor.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nephrite |title=Audiobook Review: The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers(1981) |url=https://theorkneynews.scot/2019/01/22/audiobook-review-the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers1981/ |access-date=28 May 2020 |work=The Orkney News |date=22 January 2019}}</ref> The 1991 Russian [[television play]] ''[[Khraniteli]]'' features a group of Nazgûl galloping through a snowy pine forest; they wear black cloaks, with glimpses of red equipment.<ref name="Templeton 2021">{{cite web |last=Templeton |first=Molly |title=A 30-Year-Old Soviet Adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring Is Available for Your Viewing Pleasure |url=https://www.tor.com/2021/04/06/soviet-lord-of-the-rings-1991/ |publisher=TOR.com |access-date=18 April 2021 |date=6 April 2021}}</ref>

In ''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy (2001–2003) by [[Peter Jackson]], the Nazgûl are almost always concealed by cloaks; they attack the inn at Bree themselves.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rosebury |first=Brian |author-link=Brian Rosebury |chapter=The Lord of the Rings: Imagining Middle-earth |year=2003 |title=Tolkien: A Cultural Phenomenon |title-link=Tolkien: A Cultural Phenomenon |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |isbn=978-1-4039-1263-3 |pages=11–59}}</ref> During the siege of Minas Tirith, the Witch-king wears a distinctive helmet over his hood resembling a mask and a crown, rather than the crown worn underneath his hood in the book.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dembrow |first=Dylan |title=Lord Of The Rings: 20 Strangest Details About Witch-King's Anatomy |url=https://screenrant.com/lord-rings-witch-king-anatomy-trivia-details/ |website=ScreenRant |date=4 November 2018 |quote=To better distinguish him from his fellow Nazgul, the Witch-king was given additional armor and a large, pointed helm. In the novels, whenever his hood is thrown back, he is described as wearing a king’s crown, which floats atop his invisible head and his burning eyes of fire.}}</ref> Their shrieks are distorted recordings of producer and screenwriter [[Fran Walsh]]'s scream.<ref name="New York Times">{{cite news |last=Barnes |first=Brooks |title=Middle-Earth Wizard's Not-So-Silent Partner |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/films/middle-earth-wizards-not-so-silent-partner.html?_r=0 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=30 November 2012 |quote=She also performed with Naked Spots Dance, another punk band. (It was probably good practice for what 'Rings' fans know as the "Nazgul scream", a high-pitched screech made by Tolkien's evil Ringwraiths and performed by Ms. Walsh. "I'm a very good screamer", she said by telephone. "It's not that I scream at people. But I can scream. I went into the room with the mike and let out all the stress and the horror and the terror of making those films.")}}</ref>

[[File:Darktower.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|[[John Howe (illustrator)|John Howe]]'s illustration of the Witch-king's flying steed drove the design of the monsters in Peter Jackson's films.<ref name="Dellamorte 2011"/>]]

Minas Morgul is shown first in ''The Fellowship of the Ring'', when the Nazgûl leave the city and ride towards [[the Shire]] to pursue the One Ring. It features again when Frodo and Sam make their way towards Cirith Ungol. These sets were designed by the illustrator [[John Howe (illustrator)|John Howe]].<ref name="Big-atures">{{cite video |title=Big-atures (Special Extended Edition documentary) |medium=DVD |publisher=[[New Line Cinema]] |date=2004}}</ref> All nine Nazgûl are shown riding winged monsters. Jackson's monsters explicitly differ from Tolkien's description in that they have teeth instead of beaks. The Nazgûl use them in battle more extensively than in the book. In the film the Witch-king's mount is largely responsible for the death of Théoden and his horse Snowmane, a departure from the book. As confirmed in the films' [[audio commentary]], the design of the monsters was based largely on illustrations by John Howe.<ref name="Dellamorte 2011">{{cite web |last=Dellamorte |first=Andrew |title=The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy: Extended Edition Blu-ray Review |url=https://collider.com/lord-of-the-rings-extended-edition-blu-ray-review/ |website=Collider |access-date=11 March 2020 |date=20 June 2011}}</ref><ref name="Conlogue 2003">See also {{cite news |last=Conlogue |first=Ray |title=Tolkien's Gentlemanly Art of War |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/tolkiens-gentlemanly-art-of-war/article18440172/ |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=16 December 2003}}</ref>

The fan-made 2009 film ''[[The Hunt for Gollum]]'' features Aragorn fighting a Ringwraith on the borders of Mirkwood.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mooney |first=Michael <!--staff writer--> |title=The Hunt For Gollum |url=http://www.filmscramble.co.uk/2014/01/20/hunt-gollum/ |website=filmscramble |access-date=20 May 2020 |date=20 January 2014}}</ref>

In Jackson's 2012–2014 [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' film trilogy]], the men who became the Nazgûl are said to have been buried and sealed within the invented High Fells of Rhudaur. In the first film, Radagast briefly encounters the Witch-king while investigating Dol Guldur, and gives the Nazgûl's Morgul dagger to Gandalf to present at the White Council as proof of their return. In the second film, at Galadriel's behest, Gandalf heads to the High Fells and finds that all the Nazgûl have left the tomb. This confirms the Necromancer's identity as Sauron, as the Nazgûl appear alongside their master in the third film in spectral forms wearing Morgul armour and fight Elrond and Saruman before being driven away by Galadriel.<ref>{{cite web |last=LaSala |first=Jeff |title=Extending The Desolation of Smaug: More Is More |url=https://www.tor.com/2014/11/14/more-is-more-extending-the-desolation-of-smaug/ |publisher=TOR |access-date=21 May 2020 |date=14 November 2014}}</ref>

=== Games ===

The Nazgûl are featured in the video game ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]]'' and its sequel ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of War]]''. In the latter, [[Isildur]] is revealed to be one of the Nazgûl before he is killed by the game's protagonist, Talion. Talion takes Isildur's ring to prolong his life and eventually becomes Isildur's replacement until the demise of the Nazgûl in the ''Return of the King''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mithaiwala |first=Mansoor |title=How Shadow of War Breaks Tolkien's Middle-Earth Lore |url=https://screenrant.com/shadow-war-tolkien-middle-earth-lore/ |website=ScreenRant |access-date=21 May 2020 |date=25 October 2017}}</ref>
For the expansion to its real-time strategy game ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'', ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king|The Rise of the Witch-king]]'', [[Electronic Arts]] invented the name ''Morgomir'' for one of the Nazgûl.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II: The Rise of the Witch-King |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/The-Lord-of-the-Rings-Battle-for-Middle-Earth-The-Rise-of-the-Witch-King/ |website=Behind the Voice Actors |access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref>