ButThe Rings of Powerhasnt been hiding the secret that the Stranger is Gandalf.
Rather, its been telling the story of how hebecameGandalf.
In the first rehearsal I ever had, I asked Daniel and [showrunners] J.D.

Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) on ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.'.Prime Video
I didnt quite realize how forward a question that was for my first rehearsal.
A big reason for that is he doesnt contribute to the plot so much as the world-building of Middle-earth.
So Bombadil pushes the Stranger forward on his way to becoming Gandalf.