"Somehow, Palpatine returned." This line from The Rise of Skywalker has become a meme that encapsulates the mixed feelings many Star Wars fans have about Emperor Palpatine's return. Despite the backlash from fans over his revival after his apparent death in Return of the Jedi, Ian McDiarmid, who has portrayed Palpatine for over four decades, remains unfazed by the criticism.
In a recent interview with Variety, coinciding with the re-release of Revenge of the Sith in theaters, McDiarmid addressed the controversy surrounding Palpatine's return. He stated, "Mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable." He explained that Palpatine, being the cunning strategist he is, would naturally have a contingency plan in place. "It seemed entirely probable that Palpatine had plan B," McDiarmid said, emphasizing the character's foresight and resilience. He also enjoyed the creative aspects of his character's return, including the use of an "astral wheelchair" and a new, more grotesque makeup look.
Regarding the fan backlash, McDiarmid remarked, "Well, there’s always something, isn’t there?" He admitted to not engaging with online criticism, stating, "I don’t read that stuff and I’m not online. So it’ll only reach me if someone mentions it." Despite anticipating some controversy, McDiarmid believed that Palpatine's return was justified within the story's logic. He highlighted the idea of Palpatine returning more powerful than before, only to be "utterly destroyed" by the film's end, suggesting a conclusive end to the character's arc.
The Rise of Skywalker offers a somewhat nebulous explanation for Palpatine's comeback, hinting at ancient Sith magic as the means for his revival. When Kylo Ren encounters him, Palpatine is depicted as a reanimated version of his former self, reinforcing the notion that he did not survive his fall in Return of the Jedi but rather found a way to cheat death through dark side abilities.
Despite the divisive reception to 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.
As the franchise moves forward, it remains to be seen how future projects will address or possibly ignore the contentious elements of Palpatine's return. Meanwhile, fans can look forward to a range of new Star Wars movies and TV shows that promise to further enrich the galaxy far, far away.
Every Upcoming Star Wars Movie and TV Show
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