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 return. Despite the divisive reaction to Palpatine's revival after his apparent demise in Return of the Jedi, Ian McDiarmid, who has portrayed the character for over four decades, remains unfazed by the backlash.

In a recent interview with Variety, coinciding with the successful re-release of Revenge of the Sith in theaters, McDiarmid addressed the criticism head-on. "Mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable," he stated confidently. He elaborated on the rationale behind Palpatine's return, suggesting that the Emperor always had a contingency plan. "It seemed entirely probable that Palpatine had plan B," McDiarmid explained. "Even though he was very, very badly damaged, he would be able to be put it together in some form."

The actor also shared his enthusiasm for the unique filming experience, particularly enjoying the use of an "astral wheelchair" and the fun of being transported around the studio by four assistants. He also noted the challenge and enjoyment of creating a new, more grotesque makeup look for Palpatine.

When directly addressing the backlash, McDiarmid remained nonchalant. "Well, there’s always something, isn’t there?" he remarked. "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 that Palpatine, anticipating his potential downfall, had devised a plan to return more powerful than ever, only to be utterly destroyed in the end.

The Rise of Skywalker offers a vague explanation of Palpatine's return, hinting at ancient Sith magic. When Kylo Ren encounters him, Palpatine appears as a reanimated version of himself, not having survived his fall in Return of the Jedi. This aligns with McDiarmid's comments about Palpatine's contingency plan, reinforced by the Emperor's own words in the film: "The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities that some would consider to be... unnatural."

Despite the explanation, many fans remain unconvinced and would prefer to ignore Palpatine's return. The future of the Star Wars franchise will be intriguing to watch, particularly with Daisy Ridley's Rey Skywalker confirmed to return in 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. Ridley's character has been hailed as the franchise's "most valuable cinematic asset," and her presence in multiple upcoming projects suggests a bright future for the galaxy far, far away.

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