Ian McDiarmid Defends Palpatine's Return in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

"Somehow, Palpatine returned." This Star Wars meme has become a staple among fans, often used to mock the Emperor's controversial reappearance in The Rise of Skywalker. The return of Palpatine, who was presumed dead after Return of the Jedi, sparked significant backlash from the fanbase. However, Ian McDiarmid, who has portrayed Palpatine for over four decades, shared his perspective on the controversy during an interview with Variety celebrating the re-release of Revenge of the Sith.

McDiarmid dismissed the backlash, stating, "mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable." He elaborated on the character's resilience, suggesting that Palpatine would have had a backup plan in place. "It seemed entirely probable that Palpatine had plan B," McDiarmid explained, describing the fun of being transported around the set in an "astral wheelchair" and the creation of a new, more grotesque makeup look.

Addressing the specific criticism about Palpatine's return, McDiarmid remarked, "Well, there’s always something, isn’t there? I don’t read that stuff and I’m not online. So it’ll only reach me if someone mentions it. I thought there might be a bit of a fuss about bringing him back. But as I said, mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable. This man who was horribly maimed thought maybe one day it might happen to him, and we’ve got to have a plan B. I loved the whole idea that he should come back and be even more powerful than he was before. Though this time, he had to be utterly destroyed. So I think he’s dead.”

The film The Rise of Skywalker provides a somewhat vague explanation for Palpatine's return. Early in the movie, Kylo Ren encounters a reanimated version of the Emperor, suggesting that Palpatine did not survive his fall at the end of Return of the Jedi. Instead, he used ancient Sith magic, as hinted by Palpatine's own words to Kylo Ren: "The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities that some would consider to be... unnatural."

Despite the explanation, many Star Wars fans remain unconvinced and would prefer to ignore Palpatine's return. The future of the franchise remains uncertain, but upcoming projects continue to expand the universe. Daisy Ridley's character, Rey Skywalker, is set to appear in "several" upcoming Star Wars films, with Ridley confirmed to return in a sequel directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. This film will follow Rey's journey to rebuild the Jedi Order approximately 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker.

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