Rings of Power viewers convinced ‘young Gandalf’ has been already cast

Rings of Power fans reckon ‘young Gandalf’ has been already cast in the new series.

The eight-part prequel dropped on Prime Video yesterday (September 2) and the storyline is set thousands of years before J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Dubbed as the most expensive show in the history of TV, it seems that setting the film back thousands of years has set the studio back even further.

The Wall Street Journal revealed that the new show 'comes to roughly $715 million, or about 5,143,885 annual Prime subscriptions.

Now that viewers have had time to digest the first two episodes a big fan-theory has suggested at the possible return of 'young Gandalf'.

So basically, a character known as 'the Stranger' has caused quite the stir.

After a meteor crashes, a nude, bearded man emerges and that's basically enough for people to think it's a young version of Gandalf.

As explained by Craig Elvy of Screen Rant: "Gandalf the Grey, much like his fellow wizards, arrives in Middle-earth via boat during the Third Age, offering assistance against the lingering threat of Sauron. Gandalf does not drop into Second Age Middle-earth like a meteor... and yet the possibility can't be dismissed entirely.

"Long before getting hooked on pipe-weed and hanging out with hobbits, Gandalf was known as Olórin - an angelic, primordial Maia spirit dwelling in Valinor. J.R.R. Tolkien writes that Olórin and his fellow Maiar would mingle among the elves to watch over them, fascinated by these living creations of Eru Ilúvatar.

"It's plausible, therefore, that Olórin visited Middle-earth thousands of years before returning under the 'Gandalf' guise."

One of The Stranger's carvings 👀 #TheRingsOfPower pic.twitter.com/ES9gnD4HL2

— Fellowship of Fans (@FellowshipFans) September 2, 2022

One fan on social media also commented: "Yep, it's Gandalf. I've been saying it was him for months and people didn't want to believe lol, but is the only character that makes sense to be there."

"Supports my theory that the dude is Gandalf," a second added.

However some fans disagree, with many believing it to be Sauron.

Another fan said: "My gut says it’s a misdirect.

"It’s Gandalf’s rune, but backwards. I’m thinking it’s Saruman."

Someone else wrote: "Surely it would have to be Sauron or one of his lieutenants. The Istari didn't appear in Middle Earth until the Third Age, after the fall of Nùmenor and the Last Alliance."

I guess we'll just have to wait and find out.