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

"Somehow, Palpatine returned." This iconic line from The Rise of Skywalker has become a meme that encapsulates fans' mixed feelings about the Emperor's controversial return. After his apparent demise in the beloved Return of the Jedi, Palpatine's revival through cloning stirred significant backlash among the Star Wars community. However, Ian McDiarmid, who has portrayed Palpatine for over 40 years, offered a different perspective on the controversy during an interview with Variety celebrating the re-release of Revenge of the Sith.

McDiarmid dismissed the backlash with a light-hearted approach, stating, "mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable." He elaborated on the plausibility of Palpatine's contingency plan, saying, "It seemed entirely probable that Palpatine had plan B. Even though he was very, very badly damaged, he would be able to be put it together in some form." McDiarmid also enjoyed the creative aspects of his character's return, particularly the "astral wheelchair" and the new, more grotesque makeup look. He humorously noted that Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey, was more concerned about the wheelchair than anything else.

Addressing the backlash directly, 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." He emphasized Palpatine's foresight and the thrill of returning even more powerful, only to be "utterly destroyed" in the end.

The Rise of Skywalker offers a vague explanation of Palpatine's return, suggesting that 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." This aligns with McDiarmid's view of Palpatine's meticulous planning and the use of supernatural means to achieve his goals.

Despite the fanbase's reluctance to accept Palpatine's return, the Star Wars universe continues to expand. Daisy Ridley's character, Rey Skywalker, is set to appear in multiple upcoming films, including a sequel directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. This film will explore Rey's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, indicating that the franchise is moving forward, even if some fans wish to overlook Palpatine's return.

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