Ian McDiarmid Reveals Potential for a Palpatine Show That Never Happened in Recent Interview

by Annika April 28, 2025

From his iconic role as Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars franchise to his recent appearance in The Rise of Skywalker, Ian McDiarmid has been a staple in the galaxy far, far away for over four decades. However, in a recent interview, the veteran actor revealed that there was once talk of a Palpatine-centered show that never came to fruition.

Ian McDiarmid Reveals Potential for a Palpatine Show That Never Happened in Recent Interview

In 1983, McDiarmid first stepped into the role of Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi and has since appeared in numerous films, shows, and even video games as the dark and sinister character. In a new interview with Voice Film, McDiarmid opened up about his long journey as Palpatine and the potential for a show focused on the notorious Sith Lord’s past.

While fans have always been curious about Palpatine’s origins and rise to power, McDiarmid shared that he had never been given much information about it. “Just the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise,” he said. “It’s fairly obvious that my character murdered Plagueis on his road to becoming Palpatine. But beyond that, no.”

For those unfamiliar with the Star Wars lore, Darth Plagueis was a powerful Sith Lord who was known for his ability to manipulate the Force to create and sustain life. Palpatine, who was his apprentice, eventually betrayed and killed him in his quest for ultimate power.

While the idea of a Palpatine show may have excited fans, it seems that not much was ever discussed about it. This revelation is not surprising given the secretive nature of the Star Wars franchise and its tendency to keep plot details under wraps. However, fans can’t help but wonder what could have been if the show had come to fruition.

A Palpatine show would have been a unique addition to the Star Wars universe. With the success of other character-centric shows like The Mandalorian and the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series, it’s clear that fans are eager for more stories set in the galaxy far, far away. A show centered on Palpatine’s past would have given fans a deeper understanding of the character and his motivations, which could have added more depth to his appearances in the films.