J. J. Abrams Confirms Ian McDiarmid’s Palpatine Returns In ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’

Director J. J. Abrams confirmed to Empire Magazine’s James Dyer that Ian McDiarmid will return as Palpatine in Star Wars: Episode IX.

The first official teaser for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hinted at the return of Emperor Palpatine and Ian McDiarmid himself appeared on stage following the preview’s debut, though not everyone was certain this meant the villain was featured in Episode IX. Now, J. J. Abrams has confirmed the Sith Lord will return for the final chapter of the Skywalker saga, adding that he is both thrilled and surprised that Ian McDiarmid’s presence on set was not leaked ahead of the official teaser.

You can see the Tweet confirming the appearance below:

Ian McDiarmid’s Emperor Palpatine was the central villain of both the original and sequel trilogy, having been the mastermind behind key events that led to the fall of the Jedi and the rise of the Galactic Empire. In Star Wars – Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Ian McDiarmid’s Palpatine was killed by Darth Vader in an act of self-sacrifice and while the villain returned in stories from what was formally known as the Expanded Universe, those tales are no longer considered canon since Disney rebranded much of the material outside of the film and television shows as “Star Wars Legends”.

Directed by J. J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Ian McDiarmid, and Billy Dee Williams. Carrie Fisher will appear as General Leia Organa through the use of previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. 

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will be released in theaters on December 19, 2019.

Source: Twitter