"Somehow, Palpatine returned." This iconic line from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has become a meme that encapsulates fans' mixed feelings about the Emperor's return. Despite the backlash from many fans who felt that Palpatine's revival undermined his dramatic death in Return of the Jedi, Ian McDiarmid, the actor who has portrayed Palpatine for over four decades, remains unfazed by the criticism.
In a recent interview with Variety celebrating the theatrical re-release of Revenge of the Sith, which has seen significant box office success, McDiarmid addressed the controversy surrounding Palpatine's return. He stated, "mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable." He elaborated on the character's foresight, suggesting that Palpatine always had a contingency plan. "It seemed entirely probable that Palpatine had plan B," McDiarmid explained. He even enjoyed the creative aspects of bringing the character back, mentioning the fun he had with the "astral wheelchair" and the new, more grotesque makeup design.
Regarding the fan backlash, 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." He acknowledged the potential for controversy but stood by the narrative decision, saying, "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 Rise of Skywalker offers a somewhat ambiguous explanation for Palpatine's return. Early in the film, Kylo Ren encounters a reanimated version of the Emperor, suggesting that Palpatine did not survive his fall in Return of the Jedi. Instead, he used "ancient Sith magic," as hinted in his dialogue with Kylo Ren: "The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities that some would consider to be... unnatural."
Despite the explanation, it appears that many core Star Wars fans remain unsatisfied with Palpatine's return and would prefer to overlook it. The future of the franchise, including upcoming films and series, remains a topic of interest. Daisy Ridley's character, Rey Skywalker, is set to return in multiple projects, including a sequel directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, which will explore Rey's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. Whether these future stories will address or ignore Palpatine's controversial return remains to be seen.
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