Production for the next Star Wars film hasn't even started yet, but the rumor mill has already begun spinning. This month, reports from several sources surfaced online claiming that Mark Hamill and Hayden Christensen will play major roles in the 2025 film starring Daisy Ridley.
Officially announced last month during Star Wars Celebration in London, the follow-up to 2019's The Rise of Skywalker is said to take place 15 years after Episode IX, with Rey establishing her own Jedi Order through the teachings of her mentor Luke Skywalker.
Naturally, it led to speculations that other familiar faces from the beloved science-fiction franchise will also show up in the project, including some of Ridley's sequel trilogy castmates. Now, Ian McDiarmid is breaking his silence on potentially joining the project and reprising his role as Darth Sidious.
Star Wars Icon Ian McDiarmid Addresses Emperor Palpatine's Potential Involvement in the "New Jedi Order" Film
During his appearance at ICCCon in Nashville (via ComicBook), the Star Wars legend was asked if fans can expect the menacing Sith Lord to rise once again even for just a flashback sequence.
In The Rise of Skywalker, McDiarmid shocked fans after it was revealed that Palpatine was the one pulling the strings all along. Unfortunately, his return was met with a negative reaction from the fandom.
McDiarmid claims Lucasfilm has not discussed anything with him, saying: "I haven't been approached."
Also Read: Star Wars: Mark Hamill Seemingly Wants No Part of Daisy Ridley's 2025 Film
As it stands, key details about the next Star Wars flick have remained under wraps. While the idea of Luke, Anakin, and even Palpatine coming back for the project seems exciting, I'm hoping the next film won't rely too much on fan service.
Let's face it, the sequel trilogy became too nostalgia-driven and it's one of the factors that ultimately led to its failure. Hopefully, Lucasfilm has learned its lesson.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's Star Wars film is expected to hit theaters sometime in 2025.
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