Star Wars 9 leak: PALPATINE and Kylo Ren shock scene revealed? Did the Emperor survive?

Will Iam McDiarmid return as the ultimate Star Wars villain?

With the shock removal of Snoke, and Kylo Ren still potentially not quite beyond redemption (despite killing his own father), Episode 9 is in desperate need of a proper boo-hiss baddie.

Luke is expected to return from beyond the grave following Yodas’ shock cameo in The Last Jedi, and there have been consistent rumours since The Force Awakens that Palpatine might make one last dramatic appearance, too.

New leaks describe a scene between the former Emperor and the galaxy’s latest dictator.

As always it is important to take any of these leaks, reports and rumours with large pinch of salt.

The leaks claims: “Emperor Palpatine will play a role in Episode 9. Specifically, Kylo Ren with an ignited lightsaber, presumably his cross-guard lightsaber, cutting through a blast door on some jungle planet and entering what appears to be a vault.

“Eventually Kylo Ren is holding a square object that projects a lifelike projection of Emperor Palpatine. Palpatine’s hand is raised in front of Kylo Ren showing blueprints or plans that could be a new weapon.”

Is this the planet Pillio and, more importantly, does Star Wars really need another super-weapon? Hasn’t that already been done one too many times? Fans will likely not be impressed with a planet-killer like the Death Star or Starkiller Base.

In Battlefront II, Luke also cuts through into vault on the aquatic jungle planet Pillio, filled with artefacts and believed to be one of Palpatine’s many hidden repositories. Using the Force Luke discovers the mystical compass which lead him to Ahch-Toa nd the First Jedi temple.

The Sith Lord had been preparing for decades for his eventual triumph, but had also put plans in place should he be defeated. He was also searching for mysteries on the Unknown Space, which many believe turned out to be Snoke.

This also fits with the clues given in the Chuck Wendig Star Wars Aftermath novels which revealed that, in the build up to the events of Return of the Jedi, Palpatine had been searching for a mysterious Dark Side power he could sense lurking in Unknown Space which many fans believe pointed to Snoke.

Palpatine had secreted powerful artefacts and hidden hologram messages across the galaxy to prepare fro any eventual future. Star Wars loves repeating paterns and connections. In this way, will the Emperor now somehow aid the grandson of his former protege, Darth Vader?

There had previously been reports of the Resistance having their own impressive super-weapon code-named the Sledgehammer, which can only be used once. This was linked to a deleted scene from The Force Awakens and is something JJ Abrams could feasibly revive for his second Star Wars movie.

There had already been a leak about Rey entering a vault on sandy planet where she interacts with a more basic hologram, again of Palpatine.

Last year there was a report of a leaked toy design showing a hologram of Palpatine talking to Snoke. Walmart marketing pictures showed the set and it was indeed labelled that way, but it turned out to be a false alarm and inaccurately labelled. The hooded hologram figure could easily have ben Kylo Ren during one of their many long-distance conversations.

McDiarmid himself has also hinted he could come back: “I suppose there must be a chance… As far as the new films are concerned, I’m dead. There is no question about that…

“Maybe they are keeping me as a surprise for later but I have no idea. Of course, I don’t want anyone else to play him.”

JJ Abrams has clearly sinalled his intention to bring in as much prequel and original Trilogy material in to the final movie. Who better than the orchestrator of the events of the first six films?

FULL LEAK HERE