# Well, the Gandalf cat is out of the bag (ummm, spoilers, I guess, kind of...) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 25, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931 "2002-06-25T19:31:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/1 "2002-06-25T19:31:39Z")
I just saw the trailer for The Two Towers and at the end it shows Gandalf the White and you hear him saying something like “I have come to aid you at the tides turn.” Why the hell would they put a spoiler like that in the trailer? I mean I realize a great majority of the people seeing these movies (including myself) have already read the books but alot of people (including the 5 people I saw the FotR with) simply don’t read at all. Lots of people loved FotR and are really looking forward to the next two movies but they just have no intrest in reading the books. Why spoil it for them? Is the trailer really that much more inticing by showing Gandalf the White? ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/2 "2002-06-25T19:52:27Z")
I just saw it too and I had the same question about spoiling Gandalf’s return. My brother hasn’t read the books, but he enjoyed FotR. I hate that if he sees the trailer he’ll know Gandalf returns. Otherwise the trailer got my spine tingling for the Two Towers. I can’t wait until December now. Oh, Legolas how I pine for thee. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/3 "2002-06-25T21:50:54Z")
What movie was it in front of? ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/4 "2002-06-26T01:58:14Z")
I noticed the same thing. Homebrew. . .😃 Much-- it’s around on the web, or at least that’s where I saw it. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/5 "2002-06-26T04:54:32Z")
And how else will McKellen promote the movie? Or should we keep his name off the posters? ---
**Author:** ![owlofcreamcheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@owlofcreamcheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlofcreamcheese)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/6 "2002-06-26T05:19:12Z")
hmm I figured even if you didn’t read the specific book… you should know the fantasy/comic book/soap opera/videogame rule. the rule is: falling off a cliff in real life… will certainly kill you. in fiction it will certainly not kill you… because you can’t see the body… so you can come back later with a story of how you surived ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kid\_Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/7 "2002-06-26T11:01:50Z")
Frankly, I’ve never read the trilogy, and I would have been **greatly** surprised had Gandolf not appeared in the next film. I am quite sure that most people did not believe him to be finished off by a mere tumble into an infinitely deep abyss of flames. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/8 "2002-06-26T12:42:24Z")
What? Gandalf? DIE? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh My, thats the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. (_Weeps with laughter_) ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/9 "2002-06-26T13:52:36Z")
(excitedly) ooh. Ohh. Can you get the REAL (not bootleg) trailer now? ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/10 "2002-06-26T16:35:56Z")
I think it’s a bootleg but you can get to it from here: > **[TWO TOWERS Trailer Online!](http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/12584)** > > Hey folks, Harry here The TWO TOWERS teaser has appeared online, and this isn't the trailer that I saw. This one is much much better. It still doesn't quite have enough new footage for my tastes, but it is far better cut together, has a... ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/11 "2002-06-26T17:24:46Z")
On one of the talk shows, Ian basically said “The books are 50 years old… how can you spoil it?” If anyone saw him on TV, they would know he’d be back. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/12 "2002-06-26T23:10:19Z")
Well, the idea is simple. Do you really want to hide that Ian Mckellan is in the next movie? He couldn’t go to premieres, talk show appearances, all those things. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/13 "2002-06-27T10:17:01Z")
Don’t quote me on this, but I’ve heard that fans voted to have Gandalf the White in the trailer. PJ asked them or something. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/14 "2002-06-27T10:29:18Z")
I’m kind of glad they showed Gandalf in the trailer (which I saw like two months ago :D). Reading TTT, when I got the part where he first appears, I thought to myself, “Geez, these idiots think Gandalf looks like Saruman? What’s their problem?” Then when I saw him in the trailer I thought “Oh no, it’s Saruman! Wait a minute…” So now I don’t think really think of them as total bumpkins anymore. I’m glad I didn’t have to wait until December to have them redeemed in my eyes. Especially Gimli. What a tool. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/15 "2002-06-27T19:55:21Z")
A coupla points… As Achernar noted, the resemblance between Gandalf and Saruman is striking (and Gandalf even says so, in the book). The trailer is just ambiguous enough that a few people will see the trailer and not be quite sure what they’re seeing. KidGilligan, owlofcreamcheese–Gandalf most definitely dies; not by falling into the abyss, but in battle with the Balrog. It’s just that for some special people, death isn’t necessarily permanent. Maybe we should institute a non-spoiler convention in the SDMB–refer to the character as “Mithrandir”, or “He Who Was Known as ‘Tarkun’ by the Dwarves”. Clear to those who have read the books, opaque to those who’ve just seen the movie. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-the-gandalf-cat-is-out-of-the-bag-ummm-spoilers-i-guess-kind-of/115931/16 "2002-07-01T20:18:15Z")
The official teaser trailer is out, in several sizes and in easily-downloadable form get your fix at [http://www.apple.com/trailers/newline/the\_two\_towers](http://www.apple.com/trailers/newline/the_two_towers) Brian p.s. rumor has it that it will be attached to Men In Black 2