Rings Of Power Star Teases Gandalf's New Mindset After Season 3 Time Jump

Published Jul 25, 2026, 11:22 AM EDT

Created by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, the hit Prime Video fantasy series returned for its sophomore outing in summer 2024, ending with a number of powerful revelations. Among those revelations was the reveal that Weyman's character, previously known as the Stranger, is actually Gandalf, setting up an exciting story to come in The Rings of Power season 3.

In an interview with ScreenRant's Joe Deckelmeier at SDCC, Weyman teases that the impending five-year time jump heading into The Rings of Power season 3 will mean audiences get to see a more self-assured and wise Gandalf than in previous seasons. As Weyman explains:

"I think over season one and season two, where we followed the Stranger, we saw him from his inception, where he had literally nothing. He had to learn everything, not only speech, but also relational things. He had to understand what friendship meant, what betrayal meant, what trust, joy, all these things meant."

The showrunners very wonderfully gave him this foresight that he was going to be called Gandalf, not that he claimed it, but that people were going to call him it. He's prepped and ready for this jump in time, so that sitting with Tom Bombadil for five years, listening to the riddles, trying to understand what on earth he means, suddenly we're going to catch up with Gandalf in a place where he's landed, where he says, "Now my feet are on the floor. I understand. I can't solve everything with a with a waft of my wand. I've got to I've got to have a different kind of armor, and sometimes there'll be pain in not being able to solve something immediately. I can't hold back every tide, but that's maybe not my job."

In the upcoming episodes, Weyman explains, Gandalf has "a little more perspective," but he also hasn't lost that sense of mischief. According to Weyman, Gandalf will appreciate the little things in season 3, understanding that small acts can have great power in the battle against evil. He continues:

And for me, that gives him a little hair's breadth between what the Stranger was able to do and what he's able to do. He has a little more time, a little more perspective. That brings in a certain lightness, a certain twinkle in his eyes, certain mischief that I think actually goes to the heart of connecting with people. He can get through to people's hearts. He can begin to contact, plant some seeds, and whilst all the big paraphernalia is going on, he understands that there are little things that matter as well, and that those things can grow into really great things for good. And maybe that's going to help us in our fight against the dark lord.

Following the Rings of Power season 2 ending, then, it sounds like viewers may finally get to see a version of Gandalf who is closer to the wise wizard he is throughout J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Season 2's final episodes already hint at a major conflict for Gandalf to come, with Weyman's having rejected an offer from the Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds) to join forces.

As the Rings of Power season 3 trailer reveals, Gandalf and the Dark Wizard will once again face off, with the latter ominously saying that "Middle-earth will burn." What remains unclear, though, is how Gandalf's story will interact with that of the Stoors, a nomadic Hobbit breed. Gandalf's conflict with the Dark Wizard leaves the Stoor camp in tatters in the season 2 finale, forcing the halflings back onto the road.

Of course, as this story continues, a larger conflict escalates in Middle-earth. Sauron's (Charlie Vickers) power continues to grow following his slaying of Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) and his acquisition of the Nine Rings of Men. As seen in the season 3 trailer, this will be the season that Sauron forges the all-powerful One Ring.

The new episodes will also explore the origins of the Nazgûl in the form of the Nazgnagôl. It's unknown whether Gandalf will encounter these sinister Ring-servants, but they will seemingly be a problem for Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova).

While many questions remain about Gandalf's upcoming arc in The Rings of Power season 3, the time jump is evidently going to have a significant impact on the story and the atmosphere of the show. Things are certainly looking more sinister this time around in the Prime Video show, and Gandalf will seemingly continue to be a major player in the fight against evil in Middle-earth.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 premieres on Prime Video on November 11, 2026.