Pelo contrário, tanto o retorno de Gandalf quanto sua "promoção" vieram antes da noção de sua morte e ressurreição.
O primeiro rascunho de Tolkien da Sociedade do Anel terminou no túmulo de Balin, quando ele parou por um longo tempo antes de continuar. No entanto, um esboço da trama do capítulo (datado por Christopher Tolkien até o final de 1939, e escrito imediatamente antes de iniciar o próprio esboço) implica strongmente que a queda de Gandalf nunca foi feita para ser permanente:
Gandalf turns back and holds off [?enemy], they cross the bridge but the B[lack] R[ider] leaps forward and wrestles with Gandalf. The bridge cracks under them and the last they see is Gandalf falling into the pit with the B[lack] R[ider]. There is a flash of fire and blue light up from abyss.
Their grief. Trotter now guides party.
(Of course Gandalf must reappear later - probably fall is not as deep as it seemed. Gandalf thrusts Balrog under him and so..... and eventually following the subterranean stream in the gulf he found a way out - but he does not turn up until they have had many adventures: not indeed until they are on the [?borders] of Mordor and the King of Ond is being beaten in battle)
History of Middle-earth VI The Return of the Shadow Part 4: "The Story Continued" Chapter XXV "The Mines of Moria"
A primeira menção de "Gandalf, o Branco" é provavelmente em uma nota isolada de data incerta (embora possivelmente por volta de 1940):
Gandalf to reappear again. How did he escape? This might never be fully explained. He passed through fire - and became the White Wizard.
History of Middle-earth VII The Treason of Isengard Chapter XXIII: "Notes on Various Topics"
Quando a morte de Gandalf entrou na narrativa, também é difícil determinar. É evidente que não está presente no primeiro esboço do relato de Gandalf sobre sua batalha contra o Balrog:
On the way they ask Gandalf how he escaped. He refuses the full tale - but tells how he passed through fire (and water?) and came to the 'bottom of the world', and there finally overthrew the Balrog, who fled. Gandalf followed up a secret way to Durin's Tower on the summit of the mountains (?of Caradras). There they had a battle - those who beheld it afar thought it was a thunderstorm with lightning. A great rain came down. The Balrog was destroyed, and the tower crumbled and stones blocked the door of the secret way. Gandalf was left on the mountain-top. The eagle Gwaihir rescued him. He went then to Lothlorien. Galadriel arrayed him in white garments before he left. While Gandalf was on mountain top he saw many things - a vision of Mordor etc.
History of Middle-earth VII The Treason of Isengard Chapter XXIV: "The White Rider"
Não há menção de quando a morte de Gandalf entrou na narrativa, mas provavelmente não foi até mais perto de um rascunho final, algum tempo depois das notas acima.