"Somehow, Palpatine returned." This iconic line from The Rise of Skywalker has become a meme that encapsulates the mixed feelings fans have about Emperor Palpatine's return. Despite his apparent demise at the end of Return of the Jedi, his resurrection through cloning in The Rise of Skywalker stirred significant controversy among fans. But how did Ian McDiarmid, who has portrayed Palpatine for over four decades, respond to the backlash?

In a recent interview with Variety, celebrating the re-release of Revenge of the Sith which has seen a remarkable box office performance, McDiarmid addressed the criticism with a nonchalant attitude. He defended the narrative choice, stating, "mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable." He elaborated on the plausibility of Palpatine having a backup plan, saying, "It seemed entirely probable that Palpatine had plan B. Even though he was very, very badly damaged, he would be able to be put it together in some form."

McDiarmid also shared his enjoyment of the filming process, particularly mentioning the "astral wheelchair" and the fun he had being moved around the studio. He noted the new makeup design, which he described as "even more grotesque than the previous one." Addressing the backlash directly, McDiarmid remarked, "Well, there’s always something, isn’t there? I don’t read that stuff and I’m not online. So it’ll only reach me if someone mentions it. I thought there might be a bit of a fuss about bringing him back. But as I said, mine and Palpatine’s logic was entirely reasonable."

He further explained Palpatine's perspective, emphasizing the character's foresight and resilience: "This man who was horribly maimed thought maybe one day it might happen to him, and we’ve got to have a plan B. I loved the whole idea that he should come back and be even more powerful than he was before. Though this time, he had to be utterly destroyed. So I think he’s dead."

The Rise of Skywalker offers a somewhat vague explanation of Palpatine's return, suggesting that he used ancient Sith magic, as hinted in his dialogue with Kylo Ren: "The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities that some would consider to be... unnatural."

Despite the explanation, many fans remain unconvinced and would prefer to overlook Palpatine's return. The future of the Star Wars franchise remains to be seen, with upcoming projects potentially addressing or ignoring this contentious plot point. Daisy Ridley's character, Rey Skywalker, is set to return in multiple upcoming films, including a sequel directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. This film will explore Rey's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, indicating a continued focus on the saga's evolving narrative.

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