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

Ian McDiarmid, the actor behind Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars saga for over four decades, remains unfazed by the backlash surrounding the character's dramatic return in The Rise of Skywalker. Speaking with Variety during the theatrical re-release of Revenge of the Sith, which has seen impressive box office success, McDiarmid defended the decision to bring back the iconic villain.

He explained, “Mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable.” According to McDiarmid, it made perfect sense that the Emperor—who suffered catastrophic injuries at the end of Return of the Jedi—would have a contingency plan. “Even though he was very, very badly damaged, he would be able to put himself together in some form,” he said.

McDiarmid particularly enjoyed the creative process behind portraying this new version of Palpatine, including his eerie astral chair. “I can’t tell you how much fun that was,” he recalled. He also noted the effort that went into crafting an even more disturbing makeup design than before: “Which was even more grotesque than the previous one.”

On the subject of fan criticism, McDiarmid admitted he doesn’t engage with online discourse. “I don’t read that stuff and I’m not online,” he stated. “So it’ll only reach me if someone mentions it.” Still, he acknowledged that there might be some pushback: “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 continued, “This man who was horribly maimed thought maybe one day it might happen to him, and we’ve got to have a plan B.” McDiarmid embraced the idea of Palpatine returning even stronger than before—though this time, he had to be truly destroyed. “So I think he’s dead,” he concluded.

In The Rise of Skywalker, Kylo Ren discovers a seemingly resurrected version of the Emperor early in the film. While the movie offers little concrete explanation for his return, vague references are made to ancient Sith sorcery, echoing Palpatine’s infamous 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 divisive reception among fans, McDiarmid stands by the narrative choice and the performance. Meanwhile, the broader Star Wars universe continues to expand. Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker is reportedly set to return in multiple future films, starting with a sequel directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Set approximately 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, the film will follow Rey as she seeks to rebuild the Jedi Order in a galaxy still reeling from past conflicts.

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While many fans may prefer to forget Palpatine’s return, the story moves forward—and Rey’s journey promises to play a central role in the evolving Star Wars cinematic universe.