Viewers of the Lord of the Rings films know Sir Ian McKellen as both Gandalf the Gray and Gandalf the White. It may seem like enough to view the character as two characters in one, but for fans who have read the books, they know that Gandalf was so much more than that.
He was more than just a wizard in the world of Middle Earth and, even on the extended edition DVDs, it would have been impossible to include all the details that exist surrounding Gandalf in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Here are just a very few of those details that the movies don’t get around to examining.
Gandalf is a Maiar
Deep down Gandalf is neither a wizard nor is he human. Gandalf is, in fact, a maiar. A maiar in the simplest terms is a spirit that existed before the creation of Middle Earth. They could take on “veils” usually bodies that, as we see in the movies, can be destroyed, but the maiar spirit itself cannot.
Maiar are pretty powerful, but not the most powerful spirits in Middle Earth, that position belongs to the Valar, of which Gandalf is not. But, it’s still an interesting thing to know, and obviously not a concept ever explored in Peter Jackson’s work.
Gandalf was Sent to Earth Specifically to Fight Sauron
As a Maiar Gandalf was known by another name, he was called Olorin. The Valar spirits, who were more powerful than the Maiar, decided to send Olorin to Middle Earth as a wizard, specifically to fight the rise and power of Sauron.
All five wizards on Middle Earth (including Saruman the White) were originally Maiar and were all sent to help fight Sauron (some much more successfully than others).
Gandalf Has A Ring of Power
It’s quite the scene when Frodo offers the One Ring to Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Gandalf strongly, and obviously, refuses. What movie fans won’t know is that Gandalf was already in possession of one of the other rings of power. He has Narya, the ring of fire, which was originally one of the three rings produced for the elves.
It’s a less evil ring of power, inspiring courage and fighting aging, which is probably why Gandalf is still able to fight Sauron while under its influence. While its’ not mentioned you can see Gandalf wearing Narya at the end of The Return of the King.
Gandalf Can Change his Appearance at Will
While movie viewers do get to see Sir Ian McKellen transform from Gandalf the Gray into Gandalf the White that is a very minor change compared to what Gandalf the maiar can actually do.
It would be possible, should he so desire, for Gandalf to change his appearance to basically anything at will. The power can be taken away however if the Valar think any of the maiar are abusing it.
Gandalf is Really Really Old
Movie viewers can maybe guess at the extended lifetime of Gandalf by watching Ian McKellen appear in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and not have the makeup department change his age in the slightest.
Despite the sixty years or so between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Gandalf looks the same because he basically is. As he was and is really a spirit, rather than a human or wizard, he has existed for thousands and thousands of years unknowable to those who dwell on Middle Earth. As a maiar he’s basically immortal, which obviously makes for endless lifetimes.
Gandalf Has A Dozen Names
Gandalf the Gray and Gandalf the White are what movie viewers will most recognize but, as we’ve already mentioned about Gandalf earlier existence as a maiar and his extended lifetime, those are only two of a dozen names Gandalf has or does actually go by.
He’s Olorin as a spirit, as well as Incanus, Tharkun (what the dwarves used to call him), Lathspell, and more. It’s no wonder he has to think a second when Aragorn refers to the newly arrived Gandalf the White as, “Gandalf”. Who knew there were so many options he had to sort through.
Gandalf Has Telekinetic Abilities
Movie fans get to see Gandalf use his powers a lot in the film. They get to see him channel lightning and fight with a sword. What isn’t as clear to movie viewers is that Gandalf has some very powerful telekinetic abilities.
He can use his mind and the gestures of his hands to control parts of the world and items around him. It’s much more prevalent and clear in the books.
Gandalf Talks to Animals
Gandalf’s connection to nature (where a lot of his power comes from) is not as clear on-screen as it is in the novels. Movie fans may remember Gandalf whispering to a moth or whistling for Shadowfax but that’s small-time compared to the powers the wizard possesses in the written pages of Middle Earth.
Gandalf can literally talk to animals whenever he wants, understanding them and they understand him as well.
Gandalf Has an Elven Sword
Obviously, the sword the films focus on the most in Aragorn’s ancestral sword Anduril (forged from the shards of Narsil) but Gandalf, along with his very powerful staff, also had quite the blade. Gandalf’s sword was known as Glamdring and was found at the same time as Bilbo’s sword, Sting.
The sword falls with Gandalf the Gray and returns with Gandalf the White. That in and of itself is pretty impressive.
The Eagles Owe Him a Debt
Many movie fans are bothered by the appearance of the giant eagles at the end of Frodo’s journey. Gandalf appears, riding one of the birds, to pull Sam and Frodo off of Mount Doom after the destruction of the one ring. Why couldn’t the birds just fly the ring to Mount Doom at the beginning and save everyone some trouble?
That’s a separate question and discussion but, Gandalf calling on the Eagles isn’t just a random example of his talking to animals. Earlier in his years on Middle Earth Gandalf saved the life of Gwaihir, Lord of the Great Eagles, and he owed Gandalf a debt, so Gandalf finally called it in.
