Star Wars 9 Rise of Skywalker: ‘George Lucas aided Palpatine’s return’ reveals JJ Abrams

He was last seen falling to his death in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, but now Emperor Palpatine is back. The first trailer for Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker was revealed at Star Wars Celebration yesterday, including the sound of Darth Sidious’ evil laugh after a shot of the Death Star wreckage. During interviews afterwards, Abrams admitted that he and Kennedy consulted Lucas on Palpatine’s return in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Speaking with IGN, the director said: “This movie had a very, very specific challenge, which was to take eight films and give an ending to three trilogies, and so we had to look at, what is the bigger story?”

Abrams continued: “We had conversations amongst ourselves, we met with George Lucas before writing the script.

“These were things that were in real, not debate, but looking at the vastness of the story and trying to figure out, what is the way to conclude this?

“But it has to work on its own as a movie, it has to be its own thing, it has to be surprising and funny and you have to understand it.”

“You can’t assume anyone has sat and watched eight movies before this one, and yet I want a kid to be able to watch Episodes I through IX and see that one story.”

Certainly, Palpatine has a big connection to the Skywalker name, having created Anakin – the future Darth Vader – before the events of Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

This was revealed in an official Darth Vader Star Wars comic last year.

Palatine personally made sure Shmi Skywalker would get pregnant with Anakin via the manipulation of Midi-chlorians. Does this mean he could be related to Rey?

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker is released in UK cinemas on December 19, 2019.