Ian McDiarmid Teases Possible ‘Star Wars’ Return: 'It's Not Impossible'

Is Ian McDiarmid about to make a return to a galaxy far, far away?

“Star Wars” fans certainly hope so!

Just when fans thought they had seen the last of Emperor Palpatine, they were wrong. Ian McDiarmid first became involved with the franchise during 1983’s “Return of the Jedi.” He was later added into the 2004 DVD release of “Empire Strikes Back” and appeared in all three prequel trilogy movies.

Fans were surprised to see Palpatine return in 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker,” the final film in the Skywalker Saga. Palpatine’s return has achieved meme status within the fandom, partially thanks to Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron)’s delivery of the line, “Somehow… Palpatine returned.”

His return has never been thoroughly explained. “Dark science. Cloning. Secrets only the Sith knew.” That’s the only explanation given for how Palpatine was able to survive his apparent destruction at the hands of Darth Vader in “Return of the Jedi.”

It seems that Palpatine might have finally met his end at “The Rise of Skywalker.” Rey gave her life to defeat him and then the redeemed Ben Solo gave his life to save hers. So far, the Skywalker story seems to have ended there.

Even though the sequel trilogy is widely regarded by fans as a cinematic failure, the franchise has received renewed interest through their Disney+ live-action series, including “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett.”

It’s not clear what, if any, series or film McDiarmid might be a part of, but he hinted that it’s “not impossible” for him to make a return.

In an interview with Metro, the Scottish actor, now 77, revealed that one should never say never when it comes to a galaxy far, far away.

“I think I have to accept that, thanks to my ungrateful granddaughter [Rey Skywalker], my annihilation was finally final,” he said, referring to the reveal in the last film that Rey was really the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine through one of his failed clones.

“[But] of course [Darth] Vader is back in the new [Obi-Wan Kenobi] television series, so I suppose it’s not impossible that one day his mentor might be discovered once again skulking in the shadows,” he teased.

Hayden Christensen is going to reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader from the prequel series for the upcoming “Obi-Wan Kenobi” Disney+ live-action series. Emmy-award-winning actor Ewan McGregor will also reprise his role as the titular Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Although it’s possible for him to also appear in the “Rogue One” prequel series, “Andor,” with Diego Luna reprising his role as Cassian Andor, it seems more likely that he will appear in “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” especially since it’s been revealed that Darth Vader will go up against Kenobi at some point during the six-episode series.

The limited series is set to take place ten years after “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” when Kenobi defeated his Skywalker apprentice and left him for dead. Anakin became Darth Vader after he was rescued by Emperor Palpatine, and Kenobi went into hiding on Tatooine to watch over a young Luke Skywalker.

There’s about a 19-year time gap between “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope” which means that Luke Skywalker is still growing up and has yet to learn about his Skywalker parentage.

In addition to McGregor and Christensen, the show will also feature Marvel’s “Eternals” actor Kumail Nanjiani, “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” star Sung Kang, “The Queen’s Gambit” actress Moses Ingram, “The King” actor Joel Edgerton, and “Den of Thieves” actor O’Shea Jackson Jr.

The limited series will also feature Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse reprising their roles as Uncle Owen Lars and Aunt Beru, respectively. The show is helmed by Deborah Chow, who directed two episodes in the first season of “The Mandalorian.”

The first episode “Obi-Wan Kenobi” will hit Disney+ on May 25, 2022. This is an important date for the fandom. The very first “Star Wars” movie, “A New Hope,” debuted on May 25, 1977 – exactly 45 years to the date!