Were you surprised when it was confirmed that Emperor Palpatine will be brought back in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker? Don't worry, Ian McDiarmid was just as shocked as you when he was asked to reprise the villainous role in the upcoming film.
McDiarmid recently spoke about being asked to return in the sequel trilogy and his reaction to director J.J. Abrams' proposal is absolutely relatable.
"It was a total surprise when about a year ago I had an email from J.J. saying, ‘Is there a good time to call you? And where should I call you?'" McDiarmid said. "So I emailed back and said, ‘Such and such time, and this is the best phone number to get me.'"
Not surprisingly, Abrams was eager to contact McDiarmid with his proposal.
"He called me straight away and said, ‘We're thinking of bringing back the Emperor. How do you feel?' So I controlled myself and said, ‘Sounds like a great idea!' And I realized my voice had shot up there, and I thought, ‘He won't be able to cast me if I speak like that.' I said, ‘Well, that's wonderful,'" McDiarmid concluded.
We can't really blame McDiarmid for his reaction. After all, nobody expected Palpatine to be brought back since the character was supposed to have been killed in Return of the Jedi. Nevertheless, we're looking forward to seeing McDiarmid's return in The Rise of Skywalker.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will hit theaters on December 20.
Related: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Teases Undeniable Rey/Palpatine Connection
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Episode IX