Star Wars: 3 underrated questions we want The Rise of Skywalker to answer
By Nathan Umali
2. Will the return of Palpatine give us a look at Darth Plagueis?
This is probably a more far-fetched question. We are first introduced to the mythos of Darth Plagueis in the Opera Scene in Revenge of the Sith, where Palpatine seduces Anakin with a story of the dark lord’s quest to live forever.
We learned that Plagueis used the dark side of the force to unlock the secret to immortality but is later murdered by his apprentice. It is later revealed it was Palpatine who killed Plagueis in his sleep, with the secret of immortality allegedly lost as well.
In The Rise of Skywalker teaser trailer, we heard the Palpatine’s iconic cackle laugh, confirming that the former Emperor will return in the movie. But while Palpatine himself was killed in Return of the Jedi, did he end up unlocking the secret to immortality as well?
If Palpatine is indeed physically alive and not just a force ghost, it would be worth at least mentioning Plagueis, considering that it was his life’s work to find immortality. An on-screen appearance by Plagueis wouldn’t have to be very long or drawn out, but it would be incredible to see an interesting character that we have only been teased with.
Although not officially canon anymore, author James Luceno wrote a fantastic book called Star Wars: Darth Plagueis, which gave us the backstory of Plagueis as well as the early days of Palpatine as his apprentice.
It explains Plagueis’ work behind the scenes as he searches for immortality as well as his attempts to be the puppet master behind Palpatine’s rise in the political realm on Coruscant. But more importantly, it gives depth behind who Palpatine is, which makes watching Ian McDirmaid’s portrayal of the character in the prequel trilogy all the more enjoyable. If you haven’t read Star Wars: Darth Plagueis, I would highly recommend doing so.
Whether physically alive or a just force ghost, it would be a real treat for fans to see a Plagueis cameo as well as Palpatine. Actor Matt Smith has been cast in an unspecified role, and there are theories that he may play a younger Palpatine, possibly in a flashback scene. If this is the case, it exponentially increases the chances of Plagueis making an appearance.
It’s doubtful that there would even be room for a Plagueis appearance, given the massive amount of story lines and character arcs that need to be completed first. But even a subtle reference or flashback would be exciting enough for fans to see.