We can rule out at least a few fan theories heading into Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, as it’s been confirmed that Emperor Palpatine is (or at least was) dead following the events of Return of the Jedi.
We’ll see how it plays out when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 20.
However, during The Phantom Menace 20th anniversary panel, Ian McDiarmid talked about a conversation he had with George Lucas about Palpatine’s fate.
While we still have a great many questions, actor Ian McDiarmid has confirmed his character died.