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

"Somehow, Palpatine returned." This line from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has become a meme that encapsulates the divisive reaction to Emperor Palpatine's unexpected return. Despite the backlash from fans who felt his resurrection undermined his death in Return of the Jedi, Ian McDiarmid, who has portrayed the Emperor for over four decades, remains unfazed.

In a recent interview with Variety, celebrating the re-release of Revenge of the Sith, McDiarmid addressed the controversy surrounding Palpatine's comeback. "Mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable," he stated, emphasizing the character's foresight. "It seemed entirely probable that Palpatine had a plan B. Even though he was very, very badly damaged, he would be able to put it together in some form."

McDiarmid also shared his enjoyment of the filming process, particularly the use of an "astral wheelchair" and the fun he had being transported around the studio. He noted the new, more grotesque makeup look for the character and mentioned Daisy Ridley's concern about the wheelchair more than anything else.

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. 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 vague explanation for Palpatine's return, suggesting that ancient Sith magic played a role. When Kylo Ren encounters him, Palpatine appears as a reanimated version of himself, hinting at the use of the Dark Side's "unnatural" abilities, as he famously stated in Revenge of the Sith.

Despite the explanation, many fans remain unconvinced and would prefer to ignore Palpatine's return. The future of the Star Wars franchise remains uncertain in this regard, but upcoming projects continue to move forward. Daisy Ridley's character, Rey Skywalker, is set to appear in several future films, with Ridley 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.

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