SPOILER ALERT: This article contains major spoilers for STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
Ever since STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER had forced its way onto the big screen for general audiences all across the globe, fans of the beloved space wizard saga have been locked in heated debates about the film's quality. While some more casual fans have been content to simply enjoy the ride, others have spent the better part of their Christmas vacation dissecting the final chapter of the Skywalker saga as part of an effort to expose its many narrative flaws.
Among several points of contention is the resurrection of Emperor Palpatine, a villain who every Star Wars fan has considered dead since the 1983 release of STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI. As it turns out, Palpatine survived being thrown down a chute to Galactic Hell, and has been plotting his elaborate revenge against the Rebel Alliance/Resistance ever since. Understandably, Palpatine's return to the Star Wars Universe left many fans feeling uneasy about the character's resurrection, and it turns out that they're not alone. In fact, even the actor who plays Emperor Palpatine, Ian McDiarmid, was confused about his character having survived. Moreover, McDiarmid says that it was never Lucas’ intention to resurrect the villainous character.
“I thought I was dead!” McDiarmid told Digital Spy in a recent video interview. “I thought he was dead. Because when we did ‘Return of the Jedi,’ and I was thrown down that chute to Galactic Hell, he was dead. And I said, ‘Oh, does he come back?’ And [George] said, ‘No, he’s dead.’ So I just accepted that. But then, of course, I didn’t know I was going to be doing the prequels, so in a sense he wasn’t dead, because we went back to revisit him when he was a young man. But I was totally surprised by this.”
According to Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, bringing Palpatine back for The Rise of Skywalker was always a part of the plan, though many Star Wars fans, myself included, fail to see how the villain's return was seeded in either The Force Awakens or The Last Jedi. To be blunt, dude just kind of shows up. No strings. No connective tissue. He simply kicks the door down and all but shouts "I'm back, bitches! Gaze in despair upon my mighty Final Order … that I've somehow been building in secret all this time. Mwuahaha!" But I digress, otherwise we'll be here all day.
As an interesting aside, Colin Trevorrow, who was originally slated to direct The Rise of Skywalker before exiting the project due to creative differences, says that Palpatine was never a part of his plan. Trevorrow told Empire magazine as much back in November when he told the outlet the following:
“Bringing back the Emperor was an idea J.J. brought to the table when he came on board,” Trevorrow said. “It’s honestly something I never considered. I commend him for it. This was a tough story to unlock, and he found the key.”
Mmm, aside from the lingering smell of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, do I smell the beginnings of a #ReleaseTheTrevorrowCut movement for his version of STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER? Probably not, but who am I to resist a good joke?
How do you feel about Palpatine's return for STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER? Let us know in the comments section below.