If there’s one character who has orchestrated more 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 reassured Star Wars fans that they haven’t seen — or, at the very least felt — the last of Palpatine in the live-action Star Wars story, despite his seemingly final death on Exegol in the Skywalker Saga conclusion, Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
“There’s a certain show coming soon set right around the time I may have considered to be very active. Whether or not you will see my physical body, I cannot comment on. But you will certainly feel my presence.”
There are two upcoming series McDiarmid could be involved in given their spots on the Star Wars timeline — Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor. The former is set approximately eight years after Revenge of the Sith and the execution of Order 66, while the latter will take place about five years prior to the events of both A New Hope and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).
The actor previously teased his involvement in Obi-Wan Kenobi, which will also see the returns of other prequel trilogy stars:
“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.”
Furthermore, droid 4-LOM is expected to make an appearance, delighting original trilogy fans who remember the character from the infamous bounty hunter scene in Empire Strikes Back. The character appeared alongside IG-88, Dengar, Bossk, Zuckuss and Boba Fett,
As for the exact plot of Obi-Wan Kenobi, McGregor himself has shared that Star Wars fans can expect to finally get a glimpse of Luke Skywalker’s childhood on the desert planet of Tatooine, though it has also been confirmed that the series will leave the sand dunes behind to travel to a brand new planet.
The first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi land on Disney+ on May 27, 2022.
When do you think Emperor Palpatine will return to the Star Wars universe?
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Credit: Lucasfilm Archives
