Theory on Palpatine’s return in ‘The Rise of Skywalker’

The final trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is set to debut during halftime of Monday night football tonight. 

Looking forward to this, but "final" @starwars trailer?🤣
I have 4 billion+ reasons to think there will be more to come.#EndOfAnEraAsANewOneBegins… https://t.co/KDQYiXC2bd

— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) October 21, 2019

The story of a generation comes to an end. ❤️ this Tweet to be one of the first to see the @StarWars: #TheRiseOfSkywalker final trailer on Monday! pic.twitter.com/cxUQh5wZ5M

— Star Wars (@starwars) October 19, 2019

It is highly appropriate that the trailer debuts today given that Carrie Fisher would be celebrating her 63rd birthday today.

Remembering our princess, our general, and our everlasting rebel. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4YiipHiZhy

— Star Wars (@starwars) October 21, 2019

Fans will get a closer look at what to expect when the film hits theatres in December. Tickets will go on sale following the trailer’s release, and like with the two previous films in the sequel trilogy, they are likely to be sold quickly.

One of the most anticipated parts of the trailer will be whether Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) will make an appearance in it. We heard Palpatine’s laugh in the teaser released at Star Wars Celebration in April and his voice was briefly heard in footage released at the D23 Expo at the end of the summer. 

With the return of the franchise’s most prominent villain, the question remains: how will The Emperor return when he apparently died at the end of Return of the Jedi? 

One plausible theory has to do with what Palpatine reveals when he is planting the seeds to turn Anakin Skywalker to the dark side during Revenge of the Sith. 

The infamous scene where Palpatine tells Anakin the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise gives us a glimpse into the potential for a character to revive themselves using the Force. 

You can watch the scene in the above clip and here is a transcript of Palpatine’s explanation: 

“I thought not. It’s not a story the Jedi would tell you. It’s a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midichlorians to create life… He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying. 

“The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural. 

“He became so powerful… the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew, then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. It’s ironic: he could save others from death, but not himself.”

Though not directly revealed in this scene, it is established that Palpatine was the apprentice of Darth Plagueis, who killed his master in his sleep. However, Palpatine does not claim to have the knowledge required to prevent death, as this is merely him attempting to influence Anakin in order to turn him to the Dark Side. Later, once Palpatine has succeeded in turning Anakin, he makes a confession about the power to prevent death:

“To cheat death is a power only one has achieved, but if we work together, I know we can discover the secret.”

Take what you will with that line, but Palpatine does imply that only one person has the knowledge to cheat death. And since Plagueis is already dead by the time Palpatine says this, Palpatine is not referring to Plagueis.

In addition, look at Palpatine’s action near the end of the film. He kneels down next to Vader after Vader has lost three of his limbs and has been severely burned. Palpatine briefly touches Vader’s head and it’s implied that that action keeps Vader alive long enough for him to be put into the black suit that completes Vader’s iconic image.

So put that all together and you have what I believe to be a solid theory: Palpatine is returning because he managed to use the Force to cheat death. 

He never says who the “one” is who knows the power to cheat death, but if Plagueis is dead, why would Palpatine be referring to him? 

Aside from that, Palpatine telling the story of Darth Plagueis to Anakin is meant to tempt Anakin to the Dark Side. Palpatine knows that Anakin is suffering visions of Padme dying in childbirth, so he manipulates Anakin into thinking it’s possible to save her using Plagueis’ knowledge.

What likely happened is Plagueis learned of the possibility to cheat death and passed his information on to Palpatine. And when Palpatine felt the time was right, he killed his master and used Plagueis’ knowledge to learn more about the great mystery of the Force and how to cheat death. 

In many ways, Palpatine is similar to Harry Potter villain Lord Voldemort. Wanting to cheat death would make the characters that much more similar, as Voldemort attempted to cheat death with his Horcruxes. 

If you want further proof, notice that Palpatine says nothing more to Vader (at least on-screen) about the power to cheat death after Padme has died. His mission to turn Anakin complete, and the only person who could turn Vader back gone, Palpatine succeeded in bending Anakin/Vader to his will. It would make perfect sense for him to keep that knowledge to himself, as Palpatine is not someone willing to let something like death prevent him from having absolute power.

The Rise of Skywalker hits theatres on Dec. 20. It has been described as the definitive end of the Skywalker Saga that begins with The Phantom Menace and will see the end of the ancient conflict between the Jedi and the Sith.