Back in April, the first teaser for Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker revealed the shock return of Emperor Palpatine with that evil laugh. Just how did Darth Sidious survive that fall at the end of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi? Whatever the case, it’s clear that the Sith Lord will play a major role in The Rise of Skywalker, with his face looming large over Rey and Kylo Ren in the film’s new poster. Now stars Daisy Ridley and John Boyega have teased Palpatine’s importance in the Skywalker Saga finale.
Speaking with IGN at Disney D23 Expo this weekend, Ridley teased: “He’s the biggest baddie in Star Wars history.
“Now that we’ve done the story, I’m like, it couldn’t have happened any other way. It had to be that.
“But he’s very instrumental to the plot of the film. It’s not just like he appears again; it’s all explained.”
Perhaps this means that Palpatine was using Snoke as something of a puppet?
REY WITH DARK SIDE LIGHTSABER FOOTAGE
After all, it’s canon now in official Star Wars comics for Sith to live on through Dark Side artefacts like headgear.
Last year the official Darth Vader comic saw the yet-to-be-redeemed Anakin Skywalker given the helmet of a Sith called Lord Momin.
Interestingly, this was lent by Palpatine, before the helmet speaks to Vader.
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker will be released in UK cinemas on December 19, 2019.