"Somehow, Palpatine returned." This iconic line from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has become a meme that resonates deeply with fans, often used to highlight the controversial return of Emperor Palpatine. Despite his apparent demise at the end of Return of the Jedi, Palpatine's revival through cloning in The Rise of Skywalker stirred significant backlash among the fanbase. However, Ian McDiarmid, who has portrayed Palpatine for over four decades, had a different perspective on the matter.

In a recent interview with Variety, celebrating the theatrical re-release of Revenge of the Sith, McDiarmid addressed the fan backlash with a nonchalant attitude. "Mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable," he stated, emphasizing the plausibility of Palpatine having a backup plan. "It seemed entirely probable that Palpatine had plan B," McDiarmid explained, detailing how even in his severely damaged state, Palpatine could orchestrate a return. He found the concept of being transported in an "astral wheelchair" by four assistants particularly amusing and noted the challenge and excitement of creating an even more grotesque makeup look for the character.

Regarding the specific criticism surrounding Palpatine's return, McDiarmid remarked, "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." He acknowledged the potential for controversy but stood firm in his belief that Palpatine's return was logical and compelling. "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," McDiarmid concluded.

The Rise of Skywalker offers a somewhat vague explanation of Palpatine's resurrection. Early in the film, Kylo Ren discovers a reanimated version of Palpatine, suggesting he did not survive his fall in Return of the Jedi. Instead, Palpatine's return is attributed to ancient Sith magic, as he references 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 McDiarmid's enthusiasm, the core Star Wars fanbase remains skeptical about Palpatine's return. Many fans would prefer to overlook this plot point entirely. The future of the Star Wars saga remains uncertain, with upcoming projects potentially choosing to ignore or reinterpret these events. Notably, Daisy Ridley is set to reprise her role as Rey Skywalker in a sequel directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, which will explore Rey's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. This development underscores Rey's importance to the franchise's future, as she is considered its "most valuable cinematic asset."

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