Who played palpatine

For all the debate and controversy around the Star Wars prequels, there’s one thing everyone agrees on: Emperor Palpatine rules. That’s mostly thanks to the performance of Ian McDiarmid, and on May 26, the Scottish actor took the stage at Star Wars Celebration to answer audience questions. In the process, he may have solved a mystery that’s been plaguing fans for over a decade.

Emperor Palpatine’s true face

After playing it cool for three movies, Sheev Palpatine reveals his true identity in Revenge of the Sith when confronted by Mace Windu and a handful of disposable Jedi. Unlike his friends, Mace puts up a pretty good fight and manages to redirect Palp’s Sith lightning back at him, permanently melting his face into the version we saw in the original Star Wars films.

The question is, which Palpatine is the real one: regular human face or evil melty face? Was Shee actually injured, or did Windu just reveal his true visage?

Speaking at Star Wars Celebration, McDiarmid recounted a bit of direction he received from George Lucas. “You should think of your face as a mask,” Lucas told him.

In other words, the regular face we see throughout most of the prequels really is a mask. The Emperor’s true face is the one we see once that mask melts away.

Mystery solved, but that’s not all.

Emperor Palpatine vs. Mace Windu

Perhaps another equally important question is whether Mace Windu really bested Palpatine in combat. When a fan asked McDiarmid, he responded plainly: Palps threw the fight on purpose to tempt Anakin Skywalker to the Dark side.

“There was some debate about that scene,” McDiarmid elaborated. “George thought about doing it a number of ways… He wanted to compromise Anakin in another way, which he did, and destroy Mace at the same time.”

Palpatine at the Opera House

“Have you heard the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise”Lucasfilm

When asked about his favorite scene, McDiarmid didn’t hesitate. The scene where Palpatine “nails” Anakin (McDiarmid’s choice of word, not ours) is undeniably iconic, but it was almost very different. The actor revealed that the interaction was originally meant to take place in Palp’s office before George Lucas decided to mix things up by putting the two characters in box seats at the Mon Calamari Ballet (performed at the Galaxies Opera House).

“I think we should get out of the office,” McDiarmid said, imitating Lucas’ nasally voice.

The rest is history. Speaking of which...

Young Palpatine?

With Lucasfilm set to explore an era of Star Wars history even older than the prequels in the upcoming Acolyte series, rumors have been swirling that we could see a younger version of Sheev Palpatine. When asked to comment, McDiarmid was quick to deny any insider knowledge, but he added that if that does happen, the studio should find a younger actor to take on the role.

Then again, maybe not. “Have you seen what they can do with faces?” he said, slyly.

He thought his days visiting the galaxy far, far away were over.

It’s been 15 years since Scottish actor Ian McDiarmid was last seen in the “Star Wars” film franchise as Emperor Palpatine, a Dark Lord of the Sith who’s considered the most wicked who ever lived in the George Lucas-created world.

McDiarmid had said his goodbyes to the character, as he was seemingly killed off in the 1983 movie “Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi.”

So you can imagine the shock when the actor received a call from J.J. Abrams, writer-director-producer of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” which is due in theaters Dec. 20 and marks the final episode of the Skywalker saga.

“The three phone calls I’ve had in my life about ‘Star Wars’ have all been amazing,” McDiarmid told The Times at Monday’s “Rise of Skywalker” world premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. “The first one was to meet George [Lucas] all those years ago for ‘Return of the Jedi.’ We met very briefly and he cast me by lunchtime as the emperor of the universe.

“Perhaps the most surprising thing of all ... was to get that call from J.J. saying, ‘We’re thinking of bringing him back. How do you feel about it?’ I said, ‘I feel really good. I bet [the character] doesn’t,’” the Tony- and Olivier Award-winning actor added with a chuckle.

“As you see, in the movie, he’s fairly physically impaired, but his mind is as sharp as ever.”

Ian McDiarmid, left, is one of several returning actors in “The Rise of Skywalker,” including Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. Jimmy Vee will again voice R2-D2.

Abrams explained on the blue carpet, beneath Disney’s re-creation of a starlit sky, that talk of bringing Palpatine back into the story began while the filmmaker was working on “The Force Awakens.”

Once he and his “Rise of Skywalker” co-writer Chris Terrio decided to go in that direction, they couldn’t imagine doing it without McDiarmid.

“One of the best voices ever,” Abrams said of McDiarmid’s signature sinister tone. “His voice is spectacular. Being able to hear him not just speaking but projected in the soundstage was fantastic. He’s incredible in the movie.”

McDiarmid talked to The Times about working on the film with Adam Driver (Kylo Ren) and Daisy Ridley (Rey) and how it felt to walk back on a “Star Wars” set.

How did it feel when you first returned for “Episode IX”?

It was a very exciting day the first day because it was completely secret. Everything was a surprise. A lot of people in the studio didn’t even know I was in it.

Did you know what you’d be doing?

No, and the first thing I had to do — not everybody has a script — was when my voice was off screen, as Kylo Ren was coming into my lair. So I had this microphone that we called the “God mic.” Yes, it means it sounds like God and everyone can hear it in the recording studio in this vast soundstage.

So everyone there heard my voice come back after all that time and it was a great moment. And then later on they saw the appearance — after they’d recovered from fainting.

Did you have chills hearing your Emperor Palpatine voice again like that?

Yes, I did. It was impossible not to, really.

The cast and creators of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” stand on stage before the world premiere audience in Hollywood on Monday night.

Did you get to interact with any other returning actors, like Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) or Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian)?

No, I don’t want to spoil it for people, but I saw two of the actors. When the trailer was revealed and I came on very briefly, and it was fairly clear I might be involved in some way, none of the actors knew, so their jaws dropped, same as all the fans.

How would you describe interacting with Adam Driver in the recording studio?

We had a couple of scenes. I wish they had been longer. I wish we had more time. I love working with him. He’s a wonderful actor. He has, of the many actors I’ve worked with, the most extraordinary concentration on set. But the minute we stop filming, he’s charming and we can talk about other things, but his concentration is electric.

Any thoughts you can share about interacting with Daisy Ridley as Rey?

She’s completely different and just as exciting to work with. In lots of ways, she’s wacky and entirely serious, but you know between takes she might sing a song or two. She should do musicals! She sings very well. That’s her way. She’s a joy to work with, actually.

In one or two words, how would you describe your appearance in “The Rise of Skywalker”?

Grotesque. That one word will do, I think. It’s sort of hideous Sidious.

What does it mean to you to be back in the franchise now?

Well, I’m astonished to be back for the third time, really. But it’s great to be involved in it precisely because it is the last film of this particular saga.

And the emperor then has a journey that is longer than most people, including me, would have suspected.