Star Wars fans were shocked when they heard the familiar cackle of Emperor Palpatine in the first teaser for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. No one really expected Darth Sidious to make a return years after his fatal fall in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
As it turns out, Palpatine's appearance in The Rise of Skywalker was J.J. Abrams's idea after all.
Speaking in an interview with Empire to talk about the writing credit that he's gotten from Episode IX, the original director of The Rise of Skywalker, Colin Trevorrow reveals a few key details about the upcoming film.
Though some of the original creative ideas were retained when Abrams took over the project, the director brought in new elements to The Rise of Skywalker too, and that includes Emperor Palpatine.
"Bringing back the Emperor was an idea JJ brought to the table when he came on board," Trevorrow says in his discussion with the entertainment news outlet, "It's honestly something I never considered. I commend him for it. This was a tough story to unlock, and he found the key."
Though fans would love to hear more about what Abrams has planned for Darth Sidious, Trevorrow refuses to talk more about the subject.
Fans have a lot of questions about Emperor Palpatine right now, especially when it comes to the extent of the villain's return. Is Palpatine going to make a full physical return in The Rise of Skywalker, or is he appearing as a hologram? Will he be reincarnated through the fused powers of Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)?
Let's wait and see.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premieres December 20, 2019.
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Star Wars: Episode IX