The Grey Wizard is back in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3.
For the first two seasons of The Rings of Power, the character known as The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) remains a mystery. We see him encounter the Harfoots, learn from Tom Bombadil, and travel through the eastern lands of Rhûn where he meets a powerful dark wizard. It’s in the season 2 finale that The Stranger finally understands and embraces his true identity: Gandalf.
Empire Magazine just released the first official image of Gandalf the Grey in season 3 of The Rings of Power. The picture shows his familiar look – including his beard, staff, and grey pointy hat – making him instantly recognizable as one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s most popular characters. You can see the image below.
According to showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, season 3 of The Rings of Power will give Gandalf a more central role – something actor Weyman says he’d been eager to see happen. He shared this with Empire magazine.
Right before Season 3 began, J.D. and Patrick explained they wanted Gandalf’s arrival to feel right – to capture the beloved wizard from Tolkien’s books. I focused on bringing out that side of him: the playful spirit and that familiar spark in his eyes, which hopefully viewers will recognize.
Weyman, who finally got to wear the complete Gandalf costume, says putting on the hat was an incredibly moving experience, and felt like a dream. However, this new look comes at a serious time, as Middle-earth faces growing darkness and Sauron ramps up his plans.
As a huge fan, I was really excited to hear Payne talk about Season 3. Apparently, we’re going to see Gandalf shift from just figuring out how to use his powers to realizing what wizards are for. It’s not about being a powerful force himself, but about inspiring everyone else to find the strength within themselves and come together to fight the darkness. It sounds like a really interesting evolution for the character!
More to come…
2026-07-21 20:08