Star Wars 9 Rise of Skywalker theory: Palpatine NOT back, Kylo Ren controlled projection

We heard his voice and laugh in the first two trailers for Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. Director JJ Abrams has confirmed original actor Ian McDiarmid is indeed back as Palpatine. But just how did Dark Sidious survive his apparent death at the end of Return of the Jedi? Well, a new fan theory argues he’s still dead and his return is actually a projection controlled by Kylo Ren.

Reddit user HansZarkovLives argues: “Just like we’ve learned that Kylo has used his helmet to obscure his true identity in the past, as well as fit in with the Knights of Ren, what if the Emperor in this movie is just a system of control created by Kylo once he starts to feel that the First Order is slipping away from him?

“That Hux and others don’t want him in charge?

“So he creates the image of the Emperor…as a system of control.

“Someone else in charge that people will follow.

“Could be a cool evolution for Kylo on next-level strategy.”

It would certainly be a big twist, but wouldn’t fans be disappointed that Palpatine wasn’t really back?

READ MORE: PALPATINE AND SNOKE ARE BROTHERS THEORY

Meanwhile, another theory argues that Kylo Ren seeks Palpatine to reopen his Force bond with Rey.

Reddit user SenatorWhill argues: “He wants to find out how to bridge the force bond between himself and Rey.

“I would suspect ever since Rey cut the bond off, he’s been trying to reopen it.

“And since Snoke was the one who bridged them together in the first place, he’s trying to find out how Snoke did it.

“It also makes sense to me because apparently the Oracle character Kylo talks to basically calls him out for having feelings for Rey, and this would be what leads the Oracle to make such a claim to begin with.”

They added: “It’s a direct thread/continuation of the idea planted in TLJ.

“I’d imagine Palpatine knows how to do this and it’s one of the things he does for Kylo to help persuade him to his plan.

“While I think this makes the most sense to me plot-wise.

“I’m hoping there’s still more to discover about Snoke, most likely through Palpatine.”

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