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

"Somehow, Palpatine returned." This Star Wars meme, born from the controversial reintroduction of Emperor Palpatine in The Rise of Skywalker, encapsulates the mixed feelings many fans have about his return. After his supposed demise in Return of the Jedi, Palpatine's clone-driven revival stirred significant backlash. However, Ian McDiarmid, who has portrayed the iconic villain for over four decades, offered his perspective on the controversy in an interview with Variety, coinciding with the re-release of Revenge of the Sith to theaters, which has been a box office hit.

McDiarmid dismissed the backlash, confidently stating, "mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable." He elaborated on the plausibility of Palpatine having a backup plan, saying, "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." McDiarmid even enjoyed the unique filming experience, mentioning the "astral wheelchair" and the fun of being moved around the set by four assistants. He also noted the challenge and excitement of developing a new, even more grotesque makeup look for the character.

Addressing the specific backlash to Palpatine's return, McDiarmid remarked, "Well, there’s always something, isn’t there?” He admitted to not being online or reading such feedback, only hearing about it second-hand. He anticipated some controversy over the character's return but stood by the decision, emphasizing the logic behind it. "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 of Palpatine's comeback, revealing him as a reanimated version of himself when Kylo Ren encounters him. This suggests that Palpatine did not survive his fall in Return of the Jedi but used a contingency plan rooted in ancient Sith magic, as hinted at by his famous line from Revenge of the Sith: "The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities that some would consider to be... unnatural."

Despite the explanation, many in the Star Wars fanbase remain unconvinced and would rather 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 slated to appear in multiple upcoming films, with her role as the galaxy's "most valuable cinematic asset" ensuring her continued presence. Ridley will reprise her role in a sequel directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, focusing on Rey's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker.

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