"Somehow, Palpatine returned." This iconic line from The Rise of Skywalker has become a meme that resonates deeply with the Star Wars community, often used to poke fun at the controversial return of Emperor Palpatine. Despite his dramatic "death" in Return of the Jedi, Palpatine's revival in The Rise of Skywalker through cloning was met with significant fan backlash. However, Ian McDiarmid, who has portrayed Palpatine for over four decades, had a different perspective on the matter.
In a recent interview with Variety, celebrating the re-release of Revenge of the Sith which has seen impressive box office returns, McDiarmid addressed the controversy surrounding Palpatine's return. He dismissed the backlash, stating, "mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable." McDiarmid explained that it was plausible for a character as cunning as Palpatine to have a contingency plan, or "plan B," in case of severe injury or death. He even enjoyed the unique filming experience, mentioning the "astral wheelchair" and the fun he had with the crew. He also noted the new, more grotesque makeup look that was developed for the character.
Regarding the backlash specifically, McDiarmid remarked, "Well, there’s always something, isn’t there?” He admitted to being largely disconnected from online discourse, stating, "I don’t read that stuff and I’m not online. So it’ll only reach me if someone mentions it." He anticipated some reaction to Palpatine's return but remained firm in his belief that the character's logic was sound. He emphasized that Palpatine's plan was to return more powerful than before, only to be "utterly destroyed" this time, suggesting a final end for the character.
The film The Rise of Skywalker provides a somewhat vague explanation for Palpatine's return. Early in the movie, Kylo Ren encounters a seemingly reanimated Palpatine, hinting that he did not survive his fall in Return of the Jedi but was brought back through ancient Sith magic. As Palpatine himself states, echoing his words from Revenge of the Sith, "The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities that some would consider to be... unnatural."
Despite McDiarmid's acceptance of the storyline, many fans remain unconvinced and would rather ignore Palpatine's return. The future of the Star Wars franchise remains intriguing, with Daisy Ridley set to reprise her role as Rey Skywalker in multiple upcoming films. Ridley is confirmed to star in a sequel directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, where Rey will attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order. This development underscores Rey's importance to the franchise's cinematic future.
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