Getting dropped down the reactor core of a Death Star just doesn’t have the same deadly impact that it used to, at least according to the latest rumors surrounding J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII. That’s right – occasionally on-the-mark scoop site Latino Review has apparently gotten wind of the identity of the main villain throughout the next two chapters of the Star Wars franchise, and it’s a more familiar face than many of us bargained for.
Two sources have written to the site stating that Emperor Palpatine, assumed dead after being dropped down the aforementioned reactor core by Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi, will be back for Episode VII and the following sequels. As Latino Review puts it:
Even though Star Wars: Episode VII (as well as the following two sequels) will feature its share of new villains, the person pulling the strings, the real puppet master, the big bad of the trilogy is none other than Emperor Palpatine.
Considering myself a more casual fan of the Star Wars franchise than many, I’m not exactly sure how to feel about this scoop. On one hand, connecting the new trilogy to Episode VI is a canny move on Abrams’ part, but on the other, bringing back characters who died pretty spectacular deaths in the original trilogy seems more than a little cheap.
As with any Star Wars rumor, take Latino Review’s report with a pretty huge grain of salt. We really don’t know all that much about the upcoming entry, but internet speculation has run so rampant that anyone buying into all of the reports would almost have a complete film envisioned by this point.
With that qualification, though, would you want the Emperor to return for Star Wars: Episode VII? Or would you rather that new villains were the main focus in this upcoming trilogy? Sound off below!