"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 his apparent demise at the end of Return of the Jedi, Palpatine's resurrection in the latest installment of the Star Wars saga stirred significant controversy among fans. However, Ian McDiarmid, the actor behind Palpatine for over four decades, remains unfazed by the backlash.
In a recent interview with Variety celebrating the re-release of Revenge of the Sith, which has seen substantial success at the box office, McDiarmid addressed the criticism surrounding Palpatine's return. He dismissed the concerns, stating, "mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable." McDiarmid elaborated on the character's foresight, explaining, "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."
The actor also shared his enjoyment of the filming process, particularly the unique "astral wheelchair" used for his character. "When I realized I had a sort of astral wheelchair, that was even better. I just had these four guys who whisked me around the studio; I can’t tell you how much fun that was," he recalled. He also mentioned the new, more grotesque makeup look designed for Palpatine's return.
Regarding the backlash specifically, McDiarmid remained detached, noting, "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 preparedness, stating, "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 ambiguous explanation for Palpatine's return. Early in the film, Kylo Ren encounters what appears to be a reanimated version of the Emperor, suggesting that Palpatine did not survive his fall in Return of the Jedi. Instead, he used ancient Sith magic, as hinted by his reference to the "unnatural" abilities of the Dark Side of the Force during his monologue to Kylo Ren.
Despite the explanation, many fans remain unconvinced and would prefer to overlook Palpatine's return. The future of the Star Wars franchise and its approach to this contentious plot point remains to be seen. Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey Skywalker, is set to return in several upcoming films, including a sequel directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. This sequel will explore Rey's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, indicating a continued focus on the characters and storylines introduced in the latest trilogy.
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