Palpatine Strikes Back: Ian McDiarmid Defends Return in Episode IX

Palpatine Strikes Back: Ian McDiarmid Defends Return in Episode IX. Although many fans were not happy with the creative decisions made for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, McDiarmid thinks the Palpatine thing makes sense.

By Megan Sauer

Ian McDiarmid, the actor behind the iconic Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars saga, has come out in defense of his return in the final installment of the sequel trilogy, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. During an exclusive interview with Empire, celebrating 25 years of the Star Wars preludes, McDiarmid shared his thoughts on Palpatine’s mysterious return.

Was Palpatine in episode IX a bad idea?

Palpatine’s return in The Rise of Skywalker was one of the most debated and discussed aspects among Star Wars fans. Many fans expressed skepticism at the decision to resurrect a character who had been seemingly defeated in the original trilogy. However, McDiarmid offered an intriguing perspective on the viability of Palpatine’s return, suggesting that the character had always been skilled at manipulating and meticulously planning his plans.

What did Ian McDiarmid say about Palpatine’s return?

Defending the Emperor’s ability to plausibly orchestrate his return within the Star Wars universe, the veteran actor used the following arguments:

“A lot of people said it was ridiculous. Naturally, his demise occurred in the final moments of Return of the Jedi! And, frankly, I think George thought he’d killed me, too. But JJ thought it would be a good idea; I wasn’t going to argue with him. I felt like Palpatine always had a plan B, probably also a plan C, D, E and F. Furthermore, his proficiency lay in the field of cloning, thus…”

How was the reception of episode IX in theaters?

Reception of The Rise of Skywalker from fans and critics was mixed. While the film was praised for its visual spectacle and thrilling action, it also received criticism for its complex plot and fast pacing. Palpatine’s return was one of the most controversial aspects of the film, with some fans praising the surprise and element of continuity it brought to the saga, while others questioned its narrative coherence and its impact on the legacy of the original trilogy.

What does the future hold for Star Wars?

As for the future of Star Wars, the franchise continues to expand with a wide range of projects in development. From new movies to television series and content for streaming platforms, Disney and Lucasfilm are committed to taking the galaxy far, far away to new heights. Despite criticism and controversies, The Rise of Skywalker marked the end of the Skywalker saga on the big screen, opening up new opportunities to explore different aspects of the Star Wars universe in future installments.

One of the next Star Wars films goes into production this year and marks the return of Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker. At the moment it does not have a release date.