Disney and Lucasfilm may be in the process of rapidly expanding their crown jewel through multiple Star Wars anthology pics (see: Rogue One, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi), but if there’s ever an opportunity for Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine to reappear in a future film, series mainstay Ian McDiarmid wants to answer the call.
In fact, while chatting to the BBC (via Screen Rant), the Scottish thesp admitted that he’d like to be remembered as the one and only Palpatine, whereas Disney has cast the likes of Donald Glover (Lando Calrissian) and Alden Ehrenreich (Solo) to play younger versions of Star Wars icons.
For McDiarmid, though, the screen legend noted that there’s always a possibility his über-villain will reemerge thanks to the ongoing anthology series, before drawing attention to the numerous references to Palpatine in last year’s spinoff, Rogue One.
I suppose there must be a chance but I think you’d find out about it more quickly than I would. As far as the new films are concerned, I’m dead. There is no question about that. But there is what they call the anthology series and actually, the most recent one, Rogue One, was about the time when I was in charge. I was referred to a few times, Darth Vader popped up, but you did not see me. Maybe they are keeping me as a surprise for later but I have no idea. Of course, I don’t want anyone else to play him.
It’s difficult to dispute McDiarmid’s point, as there aren’t many screen villains that have ever enraptured (or terrified!) the audience quite like his Emperor Palpatine. Evil to the core, Ian McDiarmid’s big bad was a fixture of the original Star Wars trilogy, and there have even been rumblings that Darth Sidious will be resurrected in time for The Last Jedi. Stick a pin in that one for now, though, as the rumor mill is currently operating at full tilt.
Over the next eight months, Disney and Lucasfilm have plans in place for two high-profile Star Wars launches: The Last Jedi (December 15th) and Han Solo, which will uncover the rip-roaring origin story behind one of the galaxy’s greatest smugglers on May 25th, 2018.
