Today ended up being a lot bigger thanStar Warsfans were even hoping for.Star Wars 9is officially titledStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerand it features the return of Emperor Palpatine. This not a joke. In the first trailer for the movie, we hear Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker say, “We’ll always be with you… No one’s ever really gone.” Just as he finishes that sentence the old familiar laugh of Palpatine actor Ian McDiarmid cracks across the speakers. McDiarmid appeared on stage atStar WarsCelebration and made the crew run the teaser trailer again.
Okay, so nobody is ever really gone, according toLuke Skywalker. That doesn’t explain how Emperor Palpatine is back forThe Rise of Skywalkerat all. Before the first footage rolled, J.J. Abrams had this to say.
“This movie is about the new generation and what they’ve inheritedthe light and the darkand asking the questions as they face the greatest evil, ‘Are they ready?'”
Are they going to be able to fight back against the Emperor? Will Kylo Ren switch sides after striking downSupreme Leader Snoke? There are so many questions as to how this powerful villain can return to theStar Warsfranchise.
Star Warsfans were all hoping for some twists, and this is certainly a big one to give away right out of the gate. Rumors of the return ofSheev Palpatinehave been swirling for months, but they were treated as outlandish and not many people believed it at the time. However, it is all true and has been officially confirmed by theThe Rise of Skywalkertrailer. J.J. Abrams is going to have a lot of explaining to do.
Darth Vader famously killed Palpatine inReturn of the Jediafter he couldn’t stand to see him torture his son, Luke Skywalker, any longer. However, it looks like he may have survived, though we have no idea how that’s even possible. Palpatine’s voice can be heard in 2015’sThe Force Awakenswhen Rey touches Luke’s Lightsaber, which originally belonged to Anakin Skywalker. The villain is mentioned inThe Last Jediunder the name Darth Sidious by Luke when he’s talking to Rey about the fall of the Jedi Order.
Elsewhere in theRise of the Skywalkertrailer, we are treated to our first look at Billy Dee Williams back as Lando Calrissian. Fans atStar WarsCelebration were treated to a Williams appearance and were very enthusiastic about seeing the 82-year old iconic actor on the stage. He was only shown for a brief moment in the trailer. The same can be said about the late Carrie Fisher, who was also shown briefly in the trailer, giving Rey a tearful hug. You can check out theThe Rise of Skywalkertrailer below and listen for the return of Emperor Palpatine, thanks to the Star Wars Youtube channel.
