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

"Somehow, Palpatine returned." This Star Wars meme, stemming from the controversial return of Emperor Palpatine in The Rise of Skywalker, has become a cultural phenomenon. The decision to bring back Palpatine, especially after his supposed death in the beloved Return of the Jedi, was met with significant fan backlash. However, Ian McDiarmid, who has portrayed Palpatine for over four decades, remains unfazed by the criticism.

In a recent interview with Variety, celebrating the re-release of Revenge of the Sith which has seen substantial box office success, McDiarmid addressed the controversy surrounding Palpatine's return. He dismissed the backlash, stating, "mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable." He elaborated on the character's foresight, saying, "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 enjoyed the unique aspects of filming his scenes, mentioning the "astral wheelchair" and the fun he had being maneuvered around the set. He noted the challenges of creating an even more grotesque makeup look for the character. Regarding the fan reaction, 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 further explained Palpatine's rationale, emphasizing the character's preparedness for any eventuality, including his own potential demise. McDiarmid concluded, "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 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."

Despite the explanation, many fans remain unconvinced and would prefer to ignore Palpatine's return. It remains to be seen how future Star Wars projects will handle this aspect of the saga. 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, potentially offering new perspectives on the franchise's direction.

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