If there’s one character who has had more control over events in the Star Wars galaxy than any other, it’s Sheev Palpatine. A master of duplicity, Palpatine — who became Sith Lord Darth Sidious — was a power-hungry youth who murdered his own Sith Master, Darth Plagueis.
From the start, fans knew that Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine were deeply entwined with one another, but the prequel trilogy — Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), and Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) — truly solidified the importance of the duo’s relationship within the Star Wars universe.
Now, longtime Palpatine actor, Ian McDiarmid, has low-key confirmed that the Emperor will ultimately return in live-action, despite his seemingly final death on Exegol in the Skywalker Saga conclusion, Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Aided by Ben Solo (Adam Driver) after he eschews life as Kylo Ren, Rey (Daisy Ridley) summons the power of “all the Jedi” to defeat Palpatine and his cult loyalists after using the Sith Wayfinder to finally reach Exegol. While this final battle, that ultimately results in Solo’s death, seems to end Palpatine’s evil reign once and for all, it seems we have perhaps not seen the last of the iconic Star Wars character.
McDiarmid was careful to leave room in his response for the potential of one day reprising his role as Palpatine:
“I think I have to accept that, thanks to my ungrateful granddaughter [Rey Skywalker], my annihilation was finally final. [But] of course [Darth] Vader is back in the new [Obi-Wan Kenobi] television series, so I suppose it’s not impossible that one day his mentor might be discovered once again skulking in the shadows.”
Could this be Ian McDiarmid’s low-key way of letting Star Wars fans know (without revealing) that Palpatine could make an appearance in the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+?
The show wrapped filming in August 2021 and is set to feature a number of new and returning Star Wars characters, so there is certainly room for McDiarmid to show up.
In addition to McGregor and Christensen, Bonnie Piesse and Joel Edgerton are set to reprise their prequel trilogy roles as Luke’s Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen Lars, while newcomers like Moses Ingram, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., and Sung Kang will join the Star Wars story for the first time.
The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural, and Sheev Palpatine is the most infamous follower of its doctrines. Scheming, powerful, and evil to the core, Darth Sidious restored the Sith and destroyed the Jedi Order. Living a double life, he was also Palpatine, a Naboo Senator and phantom menace. He manipulated the political system of the Galactic Republic until he was named Supreme Chancellor — and eventually Emperor – and ruled the galaxy through fear and tyranny. The galaxy rejoiced when he died at the Battle of Endor, but Sidious had cheated death and patiently plotted a return to power.
What do you think? Was McDiarmid actually confirming Palpatine’s live-action return?
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