J.R.R. Tolkien was a genius, no doubt. But even geniuses have their what were you thinking? moments. Case in point: he once considered making The Lord of the Rings‘ most dangerous artifact a casual birthday present. Yeah, imagine Sauron’s all-powerful Ring of Doom getting wrapped up with a bow.
But if that sounds wild, wait till you hear the name he almost gave Gandalf. Spoiler: it wouldn’t have carried the same wise, mystical grandpa energy.
Tolkien’s original scrapped Gandalf name and the One Ring’s birthday gift twist
JRR Tolkien’s drafts are full of wild surprises, and not just for the fans. His son, Christopher Tolkien, shared tons of unpublished works, revealing some of the most drastic changes in fantasy history. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings underwent so many transformations, even the characters’ names were not safe.
Take Gandalf, for example. The wizard we know as Mithrandir or Gandalf the Grey was once called Bladorthin. Okay, now imagine Frodo shouting that as Gandalf falls into the abyss of Moria — definitely not as catchy as “Gandalf!”
And that’s just one of many name swaps. Frodo was originally Bingo Bolger-Baggins, and Pippin was a mash-up of Odo and Frodo Took. Even Thorin had a different name at one point.
Speaking of the One Ring, did you know it was originally a birthday gift? In The Hobbit’s first edition, Tolkien described Gollum’s ring as a “wonderful beautiful ring” given for a birthday present ages and ages before.
It wasn’t the all-powerful, world-changing Ring we know today. Over the years, Tolkien tweaked the story, making the Ring far more significant, and rewrote The Hobbit in 1951 to align with the epic scale of The Lord of the Rings.
So next time you’re diving into Middle-earth, remember — Tolkien’s genius was constantly evolving, and what we know now is just the final draft.
Rings of Power season 3 officially renewed: Filming begins in spring 2025, premiere could be in 2027
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 is officially on the way. Filming kicks off in spring 2025, and fans are hyped. This show’s part of that massive $1 billion, five-season deal, so you know it’s serious. After season 2 wrapped in 2024, the confirmation was long overdue.
Production moves to Shepperton Studios in the UK, with Charlotte Brändström, Sanaa Hamri, and Stefan Schwartz directing. Vernon Sanders from Amazon MGM Studios said, promising an even deeper dive into Middle-earth (via ScreenRant):
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power continues to captivate audiences worldwide, and we’re thrilled that a third season is underway. The creative team has an extraordinary vision of what’s to come with stories that have left us enchanted and enthralled.
We look forward to continuing this epic journey, for our global customers, delving even deeper into the legendary tales that shaped Middle-earth.
But don’t hold your breath for a quick release. With the show’s scale and effects, we’re looking at a 2027 premiere, making it the longest wait yet. The journey’s just getting started.
The Lord of the Rings is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
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