RUMOR: Is Ian McDiarmid Set To Return As Emperor Palpatine In STAR WARS: EPISODE VII?

RUMOR: Is Ian McDiarmid Set To Return As Emperor Palpatine In STAR WARS: EPISODE VII?

We haven't had an outlandish Star Wars casting rumor in a while..so here ya go! Jedi News report that actor Ian McDiarmid (who played Palpatine in 4 of the original 6 movies) will return for J.J. Abrams' Episode VII. But will he be playing the "original" Emperor?

News
By MarkCassidy - Aug 12, 2013 03:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: Jedi News



You'll have to have your salt shakers at the ready for this one, but according to Jedi News (via Yahoo) Ian McDiarmid will reprise the role of the evil Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: Episode VII. "The specifics of the role are unclear," they say. "But it seems likely that McDiarmid will be returning to his signature role of Palpatine. Whether as the original [Palpatine] or a clone of, we are yet to discern." Of course fans of the Expanded Universe will know that Palpatine did indeed return in this manner, as his spirit occupied a series of clones -- so IF he will be back, this is likely how. Although obviously we have to wait for some kind of official confirmation on this, it is worth noting that McDiarmid has expressed his eagerness to return to the role in the past, going so far as to say he thinks the character "probably does have a future" in the franchise. What do you guys think? Would you want to see Palpatine resurrected for the new set of Star Wars flicks?


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Tempo
Tempo - 8/12/2013, 4:01 AM
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Presence1
Presence1 - 8/12/2013, 4:03 AM
Umm......he dead O_o
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 8/12/2013, 4:06 AM
RTFA
JoeMomma29
JoeMomma29 - 8/12/2013, 4:12 AM
Danbojohnj
Danbojohnj - 8/12/2013, 4:34 AM
Bloody SPOILER warning fer feks sake! Can't avoid a bloody headline!
SoundWave
SoundWave - 8/12/2013, 4:36 AM
But... he is DEAD, right???
Danbojohnj
Danbojohnj - 8/12/2013, 4:37 AM
And if Luke can fall down a big hole in TESB the I see no reason why the Emperor can't survive one either. Buy please spoiler shit like tht next time, some folk are trying to avoid SW news.
OcciferPing
OcciferPing - 8/12/2013, 4:37 AM
No. Just no. Have someone else be a Sith. I like that idea of Jacen Solo being the Sith. Could make for a much more personal Star Wars story. Do something different than before.
Tempo
Tempo - 8/12/2013, 4:39 AM
@SoundWave:
StarkAnthony
StarkAnthony - 8/12/2013, 4:41 AM
Please please please no. The villain should not be a true Sith at all. Otherwise, what was the point of Anakin's sacrifice and redemption?
ahhmynuts
ahhmynuts - 8/12/2013, 4:55 AM
@danbojohnj
spoiler warning? nothings confirmed here its just a rumor dude
Danbojohnj
Danbojohnj - 8/12/2013, 4:57 AM
Wouldn't have hurt though.
Liverpool4life
Liverpool4life - 8/12/2013, 4:57 AM
Palpatine will be the puppeteer guiding others to do his bidding.
teinen
teinen - 8/12/2013, 5:00 AM
No Palpatine, no vader, only include the classic characters that make sense.
nach1wan
nach1wan - 8/12/2013, 5:05 AM
@StarkAnthony that's exactly what i'm wondering since the sequel trilogy's announcement
wcwpoet
wcwpoet - 8/12/2013, 5:24 AM
I'd see him more than likely as a Force Ghost. In fact that's what I'd prefer.
wcwpoet
wcwpoet - 8/12/2013, 5:24 AM
Man 2015 is right around the corner I do like how they've kept most of this stuff under wraps.
NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 8/12/2013, 5:29 AM
"It is unavoidable."
NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 8/12/2013, 5:47 AM
"You want this, don't you."
AwesomePromoz
AwesomePromoz - 8/12/2013, 5:56 AM
I could see him leaving holocrons behind to train the future dark lord of the sith.
Facade
Facade - 8/12/2013, 6:00 AM
@Danbojohnj...
Vadakin
Vadakin - 8/12/2013, 6:08 AM
@nibs actually Qui-Gon learned it and taught it to Yoda.

As for Palpatine, no. Don't bring him back. A return to life of any sort would cheapen the story of the first 6 films.
gaikinger
gaikinger - 8/12/2013, 6:12 AM
Force ghost....good, goooood
Abary
Abary - 8/12/2013, 6:13 AM
Um.............. Okay?
Floke
Floke - 8/12/2013, 6:13 AM
StarkAnthony: But Palpatine isn't a true Sith is he? The true Sith (purebloods) hasn't been seen in a very long time and it would be very cool if they return in the new films.
PosingKyle
PosingKyle - 8/12/2013, 6:25 AM
Ugh no...this is the perfect opportunity to introduce a new villain like the Dark Jedi such as Jerec or Desann from the Jedi Knight series...McDiarmind was great, but enough is enough.
Jerec350
Jerec350 - 8/12/2013, 6:25 AM
I really hope this is true as I absolutely love the commanding presence of Palpatine. We really only got 2 movies with him (I don't count the cameos in eps 1,2,5) so I would love to see him a little bit more. I'll believe it when I see it though...
Element36
Element36 - 8/12/2013, 6:43 AM
Lazy!

If the emperor is the villain, it's the same evil they've been fighting for the last 6 movies.

And you better not introduce weird time-travel loop holes into this film franchise.

Grain of Salt.
MCMLXXXII
MCMLXXXII - 8/12/2013, 6:50 AM
oh c'mon! new villain please.. palpatine was great but could we get another bad guy in these movies..
Gmoney84
Gmoney84 - 8/12/2013, 6:51 AM
I'm not sure about this. I love the character but I agree it feels a bit lazy.
ABH1979
ABH1979 - 8/12/2013, 7:05 AM
I'd be for it. It's certainly better than the rumor that they were somehow going to bring Vader back. THAT would have really ruined Anakin's sacrifice.

So yeah, either a force ghost (or they can bring Sith holocrons into it) or bring him back as a clone.
ruadh
ruadh - 8/12/2013, 7:08 AM
@Danbojohnj

"And if Luke can fall down a big hole in TESB the I see no reason why the Emperor can't survive one either."

Except Luke didn't explode when he fell down the big hole. And again when the Death Star blew up. When you explode twice in Star Wars, you're dead.
Vadakin
Vadakin - 8/12/2013, 7:11 AM
I think the villains should be from outside the galaxy. The Jedi and Sith can't be the only Force users in the universe and maybe there's a civilisation outside the galaxy that doesn't take too kindly to the "false" teachings of both the Jedi and Sith. Make it a holy war of sorts but with cultist aspects so that even as these guys invade the galaxy, they're converting people to their cause from within.

I wouldn't have the Jedi Order be there either though. Rather than rebuilding the Jedi Order, Luke would decide that each Jedi he trained (and those who came out of hiding after the fall of the Empire) would forge their own path through the galaxy. They only ever come together during times of great crisis.
ruadh
ruadh - 8/12/2013, 7:12 AM
"The specifics of the role are unclear," they say. "But it seems likely that McDiarmid will be returning to his signature role of Palpatine. Whether as the original [Palpatine] or a clone of, we are yet to discern."

Or a flashback.

"via an unnamed source"

Meaning, a friend of the guy who wrote the article.
Vadakin
Vadakin - 8/12/2013, 7:12 AM
@nomis That is freaking hilarious. To quote Stephen Hawking - I may have to steal it.
Mrsinister
Mrsinister - 8/12/2013, 7:13 AM
Yes!!! I hope he does!

Spoiler? Really? It would be announced that anyway by the studio
MisterBabadook
MisterBabadook - 8/12/2013, 7:17 AM
Flashback
ruadh
ruadh - 8/12/2013, 7:23 AM
The only issue with a flashback is it's never been done in Star Wars. I know for some that won't be an issue, but having the movie be linear is just one of those things the movies do...like the wipes, etc. I think that's why Anakin's visions in ROTS were somewhat jarring.
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