One of the most important details aboutThe Lord of the Rings' Gandalf is his staff, which he changes multiple times throughout the movies. Gandalf is one of the most vital characters in Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the RingsandThe Hobbitmovies, with Ian McKellen playing the role in all six films. McKellen consistently delivers one ofThe Lord of the Rings' best performancesand successfully brings one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s most important characters to life.
Throughout Gandalf’s many appearances, his staff is one of his defining features. The staff is not just used as a way to wield and enhance his magic, with Gandalf being capable of performing magic without a staff.Gandalf’s staff has tremendous symbolic value, signifying his authority as a wizard and as one ofThe Lord of the Rings' Maiar. During his time as Gandalf the Grey and as Gandalf the White, he has a wide range of staffs that can be seen throughout the movies.
Gandalf Uses Five Different Staffs Throughout The Hobbit & LOTR Movies
The First Is Nicknamed The “Opening Flower”
FromThe Hobbit: An Unexpected JourneytoThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,Gandalf uses five different staffs. Chronologically,his first staff, nicknamed the “Opening Flower,” is featured in the first and secondHobbitmovies. The nickname comes from the tip of the staff looking like the opening of a flower. Gandalf’s second staff, and technically the third one as well, are given to him by his fellow wizard, Radagast the Brown (Sylvester McCoy), after Gandalf escapes from Dol Guldur inThe Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
The White Staff
The spare staff from Radagast dwindles over time, leading to the worn-down tip and discolored wood of the staff Gandalf has inThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. WithFellowship of the Ringbeing released beforeThe Hobbitmovies, this was the first time any of Gandalf’s staff were depicted in live-action. Gandalf gains another staff while in Rivendell duringFellowship of the Ringand attains his fifth and final staff when he becomes Gandalf the White.
Most Of Gandalf’s Staff Changes Are Due To Circumstances In The Lord Of The Rings
Replacements Are Needed Due To The Staffs Being Destroyed Or Lost
Gandalf’s first staff change occurs because of his confrontation with the presence ofSauron at Dol GuldurinThe Desolation of Smaug. The “Opening Flower” staff is destroyed during this confrontation and before Gandalf becomes a prisoner. After being rescued and before joining the Battle of the Five Armies, Gandalf needs a new staff, which is why Radagast lends him a spare. The third staff is not destroyed, but is simply a worn-down version of the second staff after decades of use.
War Of The Rohirrim Hints Where Gandalf Got His Big Lord Of The Rings Battle Plan
War of the Rohirrim made a subtle connection between Rohan’s two big sieges at Helm’s Deep, hinting that Gandalf took inspiration from Hera’s story.
Unfortunately, Gandalf loses this staff when he is betrayed by Saruman (Christopher Lee) inThe Fellowship of the Ringand is held captive at the top of the Tower of Orthanc.Gandalf is gifted his fourth staff by Elrond(Hugo Weaving) before he and the Fellowship leave Rivendell and begin their quest to destroy the One Ring. He does not have this staff for long, as it is lost when facing aLord of the Rings' Balrogin the Mines of Moria and when falling into the depths with the fearsome being. This incident leads to Gandalf acquiring his fifth and most powerful staff.
Gandalf’s Biggest Upgrade Accompanies His White Wizard Transformation
He Is More Powerful In The Two Towers And The Return Of The King
Gandalf’s white staff is not only his most powerful, but is a symbol of his rebirth and that he has now replaced Saruman as the White Wizard. The impact of this upgrade is immediately apparent when he reveals himself to Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orland Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) with blinding white light inThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. It is not long after this that his staff is used while freeing the mind of King Théoden (Bernard Hill), with Gríma Wormtongue (Brad Dourif) bemoaning that the guards did not disarm Gandalf of his staff.
Gandalf’s white staff is destroyed by the Witch-king of Angmar in a deletedThe Return of the Kingscene, although Gandalf still has a white staff later in the movie.
WhileGandalf cannot use his full power, he still possesses magical abilities, andas Gandalf the White, he is at a level that is stronger than what he previously demonstrated. One of the most impressive displays of magic related to his staff is inThe Return of the Kingwhen he drives the Nazgul away with white light while they attack the men of Gondor on the Pelennor Fields. Gandalf is more than his staffs, but they are a significant part of his journey throughoutThe Lord of the Ringsfilms.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
