Credit: Apex FormLast year, digital artist Apex Form created a stunning image of Tom Hiddleston (Thor franchise, Loki, Midnight in Paris, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame) as a young version of Sheev Palpatine — the man who became Darth Sidious.
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Palpatine, as all good Star Wars fans know, even played a huge role in shaping the galaxy’s most well-known antagonist, Darth Vader, when he completed his quest to turn Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) to the dark side in the final installment of the Skywalker Saga prequel trilogy, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005).
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Now, Christensen is set to reprise his role as Vader in Deborah Chow’s upcoming Disney+ special event series, Obi-Wan Kenobi, starring Ewan McGregor in his prequel trilogy role as Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Now, thanks to another piece of fan art, rumors are once again swirling that Marvel Cinematic Universe star Hiddleston could join the Star Wars franchise as a young Palpatine.
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Just Jedi Things shared a fan-made poster for a fake Palpatine: A Star Wars Story movie on Facebook, featuring Hiddleston front and center. Their caption read simply, “Make this happen Disney”.
Make this happen Disney ?
Posted by Just Jedi Things on Friday, August 6, 2021
The artwork has fans online excited about the prospect of a Palpatine origin story actually coming to fruition.
Abbs was actually convinced the artwork was real:
I love fan art until it makes me actually think that Tom Hiddleston is playing Young Palpatine
I love fan art until it makes me actually think that Tom Hiddleston is playing Young Palpatine
— Abbs (@abbynotabigail6) August 8, 2021
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Thay replied to a thread, clearly convinced the fan casting needs to happen:
If Tom Hiddleston played Palpatine I could forgive like….Palpatine’s existence as a whole
If Tom Hiddleston played Palpatine I could forgive like….Palpatine’s existence as a whole
— ?Thay? (@ThayIsTired) August 6, 2021
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TriniTron still thinks the fan art is an actual announcement it was so realistic:
Disney is making a Palpatine Disney+ series starring Tom Hiddleston?! Disney is really gonna make me simp for Palpatine huh? #DisneyPlus #StarWars
Disney is making a Palpatine Disney+ series starring Tom Hiddleston?! Disney is really gonna make me simp for Palpatine huh? #DisneyPlus #StarWars
— TriniTron (@TriniTronCos) August 7, 2021
Brian Burgeson summed up what most people seem to be thinking about the MCU’s Hiddleston taking on the role of Palpatine, writing:
That is…actually incredible.
That is…actually incredible. https://t.co/tW4Wkz1YxV
— brian burgeson (@baburgeson) August 10, 2021
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Hiddleston’s Loki and Emperor Palpatine actually have quite a few similarities at first glance — although Loki is, at heart, a much different type of character than the power-hungry leader of the Galactic Empire — but, both are skilled at navigating the political systems in their respective universes, and both have a conniving, manipulative streak they use to get what they want, when they want it.
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Hiddleston — who is due to return to the Marvel Multiverse in Loki Season 2 alongside Owen Wilson (Mobius M. Mobius) and Sophia di Martino (Sylvie/Lady Loki) — would seemingly be the perfect fit if Disney and Lucasfilm do decide to take Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau’s advice and listen to the fans.
What do you think about Tom Hiddleston potentially playing Sheev Palpatine?