THE RINGS OF POWER Star Daniel Weyman Talks About the Special Moment Gandalf Finally Gets His Iconic Wizard Hat
Gandalf is finally getting his iconic wizard hat in Season 3 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and it turns out that getting the look just right was a pretty big deal. For Daniel Weyman, who plays the legendary wizard in Prime Video's fantasy series, the hat became something much more meaningful than another piece of his costume.
Season 3 has some major moments in store for Tolkien fans, including Sauron forging the One Ring. That's obviously a huge event in Middle-earth history, but there's also something pretty cool about finally seeing Gandalf put on that familiar hat for the first time.
During a recent press event for The Rings of Power Season 3, Weyman spoke with io9 about the process of bringing Gandalf's signature look to life, and it involved a lot more work than simply finding a hat that fit.
“That was a joy,” he said. “You go into a costume fitting and you’ve got this great costume team, and Janet [Spriggs], who made the hat, would come in. It was a sort of royal artifact … I wouldn’t put it on myself.
“It would be put on me, and measurements would be taken, and pictures would be taken, and conversations would happen, and notes would be given. It would be changed a bit, and I’d come in again. So it was a whole thing getting it to the right place.”
One interesting detail is that Gandalf's hat originally belongs to Tom Bombadil, played by Rory Kinnear. That connection gives the accessory some additional history within the series, while also creating a practical challenge for the costume department.
Weyman explained how costume designer Janet Spriggs helped make the hat feel like something that belonged to both characters.
“It’s obviously Tom [Bombadil]’s hat, but Rory [Kinnear]’s head might not be the same fit as mine. So it was a joy to work with Janet on that, and I think she’s done an extraordinary job.
“By the time you get to film with it, not only does it [embody] all of Tom Bombadil’s whimsy, wonder, and eternal being, but it also has that backstory for me of my relationship with Janet and my work with the whole costume team.
“So suddenly you get an understanding as to why one small thing, a person’s hat, can become a massive thing for a human story but also a show’s story.”
It's fun hearing how much thought went into something fans will instantly recognize. Gandalf's hat has been part of his identity for generations of Tolkien readers and movie fans, and watching Weyman's version of the character finally wear it should be a satisfying moment.
Of course, Gandalf has much bigger problems heading his way than getting his wardrobe sorted out. Weyman also talked about how Season 3 brings the different storylines closer together as the threat of Sauron continues to grow.
After spending the first two seasons following separate adventures across Middle-earth, the characters are reaching a point where working together is becoming essential.
“For a long time, we were sort of on our own journeys in these other parts of Middle-earth, and now it feels like if we don’t all get our acts together, darkness is going to take over very easily,” he said.
“I felt like [Gandalf] was aware of [the other characters’] storylines, that there’s something in the earth that has changed. There is a resonance, a vibration, that Gandalf picks up on, which says we all have to start making choices that might be very, very difficult, but to come together and unite against this darkness, otherwise it’s all going to be over.”
With Sauron's plans moving forward and Gandalf becoming the wizard fans know and love, Season 3 looks to be an important chapter in the series.
I'm interested in seeing how the show handles these recognizable elements of Tolkien's mythology. Gandalf getting his hat might seem minor compared to the creation of the One Ring, but it's one of those character moments that could make longtime fans smile.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 premieres November 11 on Prime Video.