The Star Wars universe has plenty of standout villains, from Darth Vader to Darth Maul. But the most malevolent has to be Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), the ruler of the Galactic Empire and the overarching villain of the Skywalker Saga. McDiarmid recently sat down with Variety to discuss his tenure as Palpatine following the 20th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. The conversation covered everything from Palpatine’s evolution as a character to a planned TV series following his rise to power as a Sith Lord, and also featured a hilarious story involving Steven Spielberg’s reaction to his performance.
Steven Spielberg Had a Blunt, but Accurate Reaction to Ian McDiarmid’s Palpatine Performance
A little-known Star Wars fact is that McDiarmid wasn’t the first person to play Palpatine. That honor went to Marjorie Eaton, who wore a mask to give off a wizened appearance, and Clive Revill, who provided Palpatine with his voice; in a way, it mirrored the same process that David Prowse and James Earl Jones used to bring Darth Vader to life. When McDiarmid was tapped to play Palpatine in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, director Richard Marquand gave him a cape containing Revill’s performances so that he could understand how to play Palpatine. This led to the infamous meeting with Spielberg:
Later we came to re-voice everything in the studio in London, with George and Kathleen Kennedy, who I met for the first time, and indeed, Steven Spielberg, who I met for the first time. And when we did the first few scenes, Steven said, “Oh my God, you’re evil!” I thought, “That’s a relief.”
Spielberg has been very open about his feelings about films, including his own projects, so his reaction to McDiarmid’s performance wasn’t entirely unexpected. McDiarmid was able to give off the same scratchy tone as Revill, making iconic lines like “Let the hate flow through you” and “Strike me down with all of your hatred” resonate even further. What further sells the idea of Palpatine being pure evil is his appearance; his skin is callused and as pale as a corpse, while his eyes shine with a malevolent light. There’s no mistaking Palpatine for anyone but a bad guy, and Spielberg’s reaction showcases just how good McDiarmid was at his job.
Palpatine Was at His Prime During ‘Return of the Jedi’ and ‘Revenge of the Sith’
McDiarmid’s performance as Palpatine in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is memorable because it features the Emperor in his prime. From the moment he appears on-screen, Palpatine is an overbearing presence that constantly pushes Luke Skywalker’s (Mark Hamill) buttons, trying to get him to join the dark side. Luke resists, even when Palpatine mocks him about the second Death Star being operational. But when Luke proclaims that he’s a Jedi just like his father, things go south as Palpatine starts electrocuting him with Force lightning. Once again, the combo of McDiarmid’s physical presence and the delivery of his lines results in a chilling experience, made even more horrifying when Palpatine keeps shocking Luke with lightning while he’s down.
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An all-but-forgotten drama starring McDiarmid and released in 1983 is well worth a rewatch.
It would be roughly 20 years before another Star Wars movie showcased Palpatine’s capacity for evil, but Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith took things to another level. It was the first time Palpatine wielded a lightsaber, and he proved to be more than a match for four Jedi who tried to arrest him. This leads into Revenge of the Sith‘s final fight, which pits Yoda against Palpatine — the ultimate battle between the light and dark sides of the Force. McDiarmid turns into an absolute demon during this scene, cackling and spinning around like a decaying tornado. As for his visual appearance, the craggy brow and glowing gold eyes are even more prominent, making him look like he crawled out of the deepest pits of hell.
Steven Spielberg was right to call Palpatine “evil”, as, unlike other Star Wars villains, he truly is evil. There’s no chance for redemption, no tragic backstory: Ian McDiarmid managed to embody a character who was pure evil. When you can do that and make one of the greatest living directors uneasy, that’s when you know you have serious talent.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is available to stream on Disney+.
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