A couple days ago UK-based Star Wars fansite JediNews reported a rumor saying Ian McDiarmid is expected to appear in J.J. Abrams‘ Star Wars: Episode VII as Emperor Palpatine, a character he played in all three of the Star Wars prequels. The report suggested that while the character died in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, he would return as a clone in the new film. Today the rumor is being repeated by another outlet, but the nature in which the character returns is being reported a little differently.
Latino Review seconds the rumor of McDiarmid’s return but says he won’t come back as a clone, but as a Jedi ghost just as we’ve seen multiple times, most prominently at the end of Return of the Jedi where Yoda, Anakin and Obi-Wan sit on a log and stare at Luke with fond memories of lightsaber battles gone by.
The Latino Review report also adds more fuel to the fire saying Palpatine had an apprentice in training that will show his/her face in Episode VII, which, if true, may become the plot for the new film.
