While Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker offered nothing in the way of an explanation as to how Emperor Palpatine managed to survive the events of Return of the Jedi, screenwriter Chris Terrio has now revealed to Awards Daily that the Sith Lord was indeed killed by Darth Vader aboard the Second Death Star – at least physically.
“The source of the evil in the galaxy is this dark spirit waiting for its revenge and biding its time,” said Terrio. “The entity known as Palpatine in this version – his body died in Return of the Jedi – is patient and has been waiting.”
SEE ALSO: Ian McDiarmid was “totally surprised” by Palpatine’s return in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Terrio’s comments rule out the theory that Palpatine had somehow managed to survive his fall down the reactor shaft (not to mention the subsequent explosion of the Death Star minutes later), although it’s still not clear exactly who/what his spirit was inhabiting in Rise of Skywalker. Sith Zombie? Cloned body? Let us know your theories in the comments, or tweet us @FlickeringMyth…
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker sees J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) directing a cast that includes Star Wars veterans Daisy Ridley (Rey), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Billie Lourd (Lieutenant Connix), Greg Grunberg (Snap Wexley), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa) as well as new additions Naomi Ackie (Lady Macbeth), Richard E. Grant (Logan), Dominic Monaghan (Lost), and Keri Russell (The Americans).
