View source for Social:Palpatine

{{Short description|Fictional character and Star Wars antagonist}}
{{About|||||}}
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{{Infobox character
| colour = Darkred
| name = Sheev Palpatine<br>{{small|'''Darth Sidious / The Emperor'''}}
| image = Emperor RotJ.png
| caption = Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor in<br>''Return of the Jedi'' (1983)
| first = ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980)
| creator = George Lucas
| portrayer = Ian McDiarmid<br>Marjorie Eaton (original release of Episode V){{efn|Eaton portrays the Emperor in the original release of the film; McDiarmid replaces Eaton in the 2004 Special Edition of the film and onwards.}}<ref name="earwolf1">{{cite web|last=Gourley|first=Matt|title=I Was There Too|url=http://www.earwolf.com/episode/bonus-episode-the-empire-strikes-back-controversy-averted/|website=earwolf.com|publisher=Earwolf|access-date=10 November 2016|archive-date=November 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109192648/http://earwolf.com/episode/bonus-episode-the-empire-strikes-back-controversy-averted|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hidalgo twitter">{{cite tweet |user=pablohidalgo |number=791503521925304320 |date= October 26, 2016 |title=Okay here's what I've got. It is not Elaine Baker in the movie. @PhilTippett sculpted the piece and Rick applied it. }}</ref>
| voice = {{Plainlist|
* Clive Revill (original release of ''Episode V'')
* Ian McDiarmid (''Rebels'', Season 2 since 2019, Season 4, ''Tales of the Jedi'')
* Nick Jameson (''Clone Wars'')
* Sam Witwer (''Rebels'', Season 2 until 2019, ''[[Software:Star Wars: The Force Unleashed|The Force Unleashed]]'', ''[[Software:Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II|The Force Unleashed II]]'', ''Lego Star Wars'' games, ''Battlefront II'' (2017))
* Ian Abercrombie (''The Clone Wars'' film and TV series, Seasons 1–6)
* Tim Curry (''The Clone Wars'', Seasons 5–6)
* Trevor Devall (''Lego Star Wars'' films and television series)
}}
| occupation = {{Plainlist|
* Dark Lord of the Sith
* Senator of Naboo
* Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic
* Emperor of the Galactic Empire
* Mastermind behind the First Order
}}
| species = [[Biology:Human|Human]]
| family = {{Plainlist|
* Dathan (strand-cast clone/"son"){{efn|name=strand-casts|The expanded edition novelization of ''The Rise of Skywalker'' and the book called ''Shadow of the Sith'' reveal that both Snoke and Palpatine's 'son' Dathan were [[Biology:Human cloning|"strand-cast" clones]] of Palpatine himself.<ref>{{cite web|last=Agar|first=Chris|title=''Star Wars'' Confirms Rey's Father Is A Failed Palpatine Clone|url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-rey-father-palpatine-clone|website=Screen Rant|publisher=Valnet Inc.|access-date=March 4, 2020|date=March 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lussier|first=Germain|url=https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-emperor-palpatine-ian-mcdiarmid-darth-sidious-1850317032|title=Ian McDiarmid Has the Best Perspective On Palpatine's ''Star Wars'' Journey|work=Gizmodo|date=April 9, 2023|access-date=April 9, 2023|quote=On the topic of Snoke, [Andy] Serkis also admitted that who specifically Snoke was—a [[Biology:Human cloning|clone]] of Palpatine—was not something he knew right away. He was aware there was some connection to the character but described the discover of that as an “organic process” in the writing and production of the films.}}</ref>}}
* Snoke (strand-cast clone){{efn|name=strand-casts}}
* Gallius Rax (adoptive son)
* Miramir (daughter-in-law)
* Rey (granddaughter)
''Legends'' material:
* Cosinga Palpatine (father)
* Sly Moore (romantic partner)
* Triclops Palpatine (son)
* Kendalina (daughter-in-law)
* Ken Palpatine (grandson)
* Mara Jade Skywalker (surrogate granddaughter)
}}
| affiliation = {{Plainlist|
* Sith Order
* Galactic Republic
* Trade Federation
* Confederacy of Independent Systems
* Galactic Empire
* First Order
}}
| franchise = ''Star Wars''
| full_name = Sheev Palpatine
| alias = Darth Sidious
| lbl21 = Master
| data21 = Darth Plagueis
| lbl22 = Apprentices
| data22 = {{Plainlist|
* [[Social:Darth Maul|Darth Maul]]
* Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus
* Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
* Kylo Ren (secretly)
''Legends'' material:
* A Nikto
* Vergere
* Garth Ezzar
* Ferus Olin
* Mara Jade
* Cronal
* Ennix Devian (Assassin)
* Lumiya
* Luke Skywalker (briefly)
* Sedriss QL
}}
}}
'''Sheev Palpatine''',{{efn|The character's first name was developed for the shelved ''Star Wars: Underworld'' television series, and was first announced in the 2014 novel ''Tarkin''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lussier |first=Germain |title=Here's the Real Deal With That Leaked Star Wars Footage |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/heres-the-real-deal-with-that-leaked-star-wars-footage-1841389155 |website=io9 |access-date=February 4, 2020 |language=en-us |date=February 3, 2020 |archive-date=February 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203223659/https://io9.gizmodo.com/heres-the-real-deal-with-that-leaked-star-wars-footage-1841389155 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Star Wars Underworld: Putting the Pieces Together |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DdxDngZpm6acDGOjXTmj6YeFSMO9aI2fNnAc1lL5HOY/edit |website=[[Software:Google Docs|Google Docs]] |access-date=February 5, 2020 |archive-date=February 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203044210/https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DdxDngZpm6acDGOjXTmj6YeFSMO9aI2fNnAc1lL5HOY/edit |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Tarkin book"/>}} also known by his Sith name '''Darth Sidious''', is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. Initially credited as '''the Emperor''' in the original trilogy films, he serves as the main antagonist of the nine-film Skywalker saga, in which he is portrayed by Ian McDiarmid. In creating Palpatine, Lucas was inspired by real-world examples of [[Social:Democratic backsliding|democratic backsliding]] during the rise and rule of dictators such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Adolf Hitler.

In the original trilogy, Palpatine is depicted as the [[Philosophy:Emperor|Emperor]] of the Galactic Empire and the master of Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker). In the [[Social:Star Wars prequel trilogy|prequel trilogy]], Palpatine is portrayed as a charismatic [[Social:Politician|politician]]—and, secretly, a Sith lord—who orchestrates the Clone Wars, ends the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic, and seduces Skywalker to the dark side of the Force. In ''The Rise of Skywalker'' (2019), the final film in the sequel trilogy, Palpatine is revealed to be the mastermind behind the First Order and creator of its puppet leader, Snoke, as well as the grandfather of protagonist Rey.

Since the release of ''Return of the Jedi'', Palpatine has become a widely recognized symbol of evil in [[Social:Popular culture|popular culture]], and since the prequel trilogy, a symbol of sinister deception and the subversion of [[Social:Democracy|democracy]]. Aside from the films, Palpatine appears in various canon and non-canon ''Star Wars'' media. The character recurs throughout the television series ''Clone Wars'' (2003–5), ''The Clone Wars'' (2008–14, 2020), ''Rebels'' (2014–18), ''The Bad Batch'' (2021–), ''Obi-Wan Kenobi'' (2022) and ''Tales of the Jedi'' (2022–), all set before the original trilogy.

== Creation and development ==
[[File:EmperorCliveESB1980.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|The Emperor in the original 1980 version of ''The&nbsp;Empire Strikes Back'', portrayed by Marjorie Eaton wearing a mask<ref name="Hidalgo twitter" /> with chimpanzee eyes superimposed and voiced by Clive Revill<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Reddish |first=David |date=2016-11-19 |title=Star Wars: 15 Things You Never Knew About Emperor Palpatine |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-emperor-palpatine-darth-sidious-facts-trivia/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521082925/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-emperor-palpatine-darth-sidious-facts-trivia/ |archive-date=May 21, 2021 |access-date=2021-05-21 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US}}</ref>]]

===Concept and writing===
{{Multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=240|caption_align=left
| image1 = Retrato de Julio César (26724093101) (cropped).jpg
| image2 = Napoleon the first.jpg
| image3 = Richard Nixon presidential portrait (1).jpg
| image4 = Adolf Hitler cropped 2.jpg
| footer = Palpatine was influenced by historical leaders such as (clockwise from top left) Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, and Richard Nixon.}}

''Star Wars'' creator George Lucas's conceptualization of Palpatine and the role he plays in the franchise changed over time. Lucas's initial notes discuss a line of corrupt emperors, not just one.{{sfn|Kaminski|2008|pp=170–172}} In the 1974 draft of ''Star Wars'', the "New Galactic Empire" was led by a relatively young human named Cos Dashit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keenan |first=Alex |date=2022-09-20 |title=George Lucas' Original Emperor Plan Would've Made Star Wars Worse |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-george-lucas-emperor-cos-dashit-bad/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> The name Palpatine first appears in the prologue of Alan Dean Foster's 1976 novelization of the original ''Star Wars'' film,{{EpIV}} which detailed the Emperor's rise to power. From ''Return of the Jedi'' (1983) onwards, the Emperor became the ultimate personification of evil in the series, replacing his apprentice Darth Vader as the central villain. Though the films of the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy do not actually state the Emperor's name, the novelization of ''Return of the Jedi'' confirms his name as Palpatine.<ref name="kahn">{{cite book |last=Kahn |first=James |title=Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi |date=1983 |publisher=Del Rey Books |isbn=0-345-30767-4 |location=New York |page=69}}</ref>{{sfn|Kaminski|2008|pp=170–172}}

During the story development of ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980), Lucas decided that, with the original having only passingly mentioned the Emperor, he needed to "begin to deal with him on a more concrete level".<ref>{{cite book |last=Bouzereau |first=Laurent |title=Star Wars: The Annotated Screenplays |publisher=Ballantine Books |year=1997 |isbn=978-0345409812 |location=New York City |page=173}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Rinzler |first=J. W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-U0PAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT36 |title=The Making of The Empire Strikes Back |publisher=Del Rey |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-84513-555-3 |location=London |pages=24 |oclc=506251987 |author-link=J. W. Rinzler}}</ref> Lucas realized, however, that the primary conflict with the Emperor would be best saved for the trilogy's third film, because "[w]hen you get rid of the Emperor, the whole thing is over." This influenced the decision to depict the character in a hood, so his face would largely be obscured. Additionally, this look would recall Obi-Wan Kenobi. Lucas stated that "In the end, the Emperor does exactly what [Obi-Wan] did; he can also transform himself."<ref name=":1" /> Although Palpatine dies at the end of ''Return of the Jedi'',<ref name="Databank2020" /> the plot point of his metamorphosis was utilized for the sequel trilogy, which Lucas had no direct involvement with.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gemmill |first=Allie |date=2019-11-25 |title=Rise of Skywalker: J.J. Abrams Explains the Motive For Palpatine's Return |url=https://collider.com/j-j-abrams-says-palpatines-return-was-planned-since-the-force-awakens/ |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sciretta |first=Peter |date=2015-12-15 |title=Interview: J.J. Abrams Talks About Abandoning George Lucas' Treatments And Lessons Of The Star Wars Prequels |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/541461/jj-abrams-interview-star-wars-the-force-awakens/ |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=/Film |language=en-US}}</ref>

Lucas ultimately decided instead to focus on the Emperor in ''Return of the Jedi''. In that film, the initial conception of Palpatine was superseded by his depiction as a dictatorial ruler adept in the dark side of the Force. The Emperor was inspired by the villain Ming the Merciless from the ''Flash Gordon'' comic books.<ref>{{cite book |last=Pollock |first=Dale |title=Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas |date=1999 |publisher=Da Capo Press |isbn=978-0-306-80904-0 |location=New York City |page=142}}</ref> The characterization of Palpatine as an ambitious and ruthless politician dismantling a democratic republic to achieve supreme power is in part inspired by the real-world examples of [[Social:Democratic backsliding|democratic backsliding]] during the rise and rule of Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Alberto Fujimori, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and Adolf Hitler.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Reagin |first1=Nancy R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m81Bg4E_y_IC |title=Star Wars and History |last2=Liedl |first2=Janice |date=October 15, 2012 |publisher=[[Company:Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]] |isbn=9781118285251 |location=Hoboken, New Jersey |pages=32, 144 |access-date=August 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111154528/https://books.google.com/books?id=m81Bg4E_y_IC |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 21, 2002 |title=Star Wars: Attack of the Clones |url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020429/story2.html |url-status=dead |magazine=Time |location=New York City |publisher=Meredith Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020605161308/http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020429/story2.html |archive-date=June 5, 2002 |access-date=December 13, 2009 |quote=The people give their democracy to a dictator, whether it's Julius Caesar or Napoleon or Adolf Hitler. Ultimately, the general population goes along with the idea ... That's the issue I've been exploring: how did the Republic turn into the Empire?}}</ref> Other elements of the character come from Richard Nixon.<ref>{{cite book |last=McDowell |first=John C. |title=The Gospel according to Star Wars: faith, hope, and the Force |date=2007 |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |isbn=978-1611648140 |location=Louisville, Kentucky |page=105}}</ref>{{efn|In his early drafts, Lucas used the plot point of a dictator staying in power with the support of the military. In his comment (made in the prequel trilogy era) Lucas attributed this to Nixon's supposed intention to defy the 22nd Amendment,{{sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=95}} but the president resigned in his second term. In the novelization of ''Attack of the Clones'', it is noted that Palpatine had manipulated the law to stay in office as Supreme Chancellor for several years past his original term limit.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/29/us/reagan-wants-end-of-two-term-limit.html|title=Reagan Wants End of Two-Term Limit|last=Molotsky|first=Irvin|date=November 29, 1987|newspaper={{wipe|The New York Times}}|location=New York City|access-date=December 21, 2018|archive-date=July 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723133323/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/29/us/reagan-wants-end-of-two-term-limit.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} Lucas said that Nixon's presidency "got me to thinking historically about how do democracies get turned into dictatorships. Because the democracies aren't overthrown; they're given away."<ref>{{cite news |last=Caro |first=Mark |date=May 18, 2005 |title='Star Wars' inadvertently hits too close to U.S.'s role |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |publisher=[[Company:Tribune Publishing|Tribune Publishing]] |location=Chicago, Illinois |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-05-18/features/0505180309_1_star-wars-sith-palpatine |url-status=live |access-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003206/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-05-18/features/0505180309_1_star-wars-sith-palpatine |archive-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> Lucas also said, "The whole point of the movies, the underlying element that makes the movies work, is that you, whether you go backwards or forwards, you start out in a democracy, and democracy turns into a dictatorship, and then the rebels make it back into a democracy."<ref>George Lucas, interview with Debbie Dykstra, at [http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue421/interview.html SciFi.com]. Retrieved August 17, 2006. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909135351/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue421/interview.html|date=September 9, 2006}}</ref>

Lucas wanted to establish the Emperor as the true source of evil in ''Star Wars''. Screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan noted, "My sense of the relationship between Darth Vader and the Emperor is that the Emperor is much more powerful ... and that Vader is very much intimidated by him. Vader has dignity, but the Emperor in ''Jedi'' really has all the power."<ref>Bouzereau, p. 265.</ref> He explained that the [[Social:Climax (narrative)|climax]] of the film is a confrontation between Vader and his master. In the first scene that shows the Emperor, he arrives at the Death Star and is greeted by a host of stormtroopers, technicians, and other personnel. Lucas states he wanted it to look like the military parades on "May Day in [[Place:Soviet Union|Russia]]."<ref>George Lucas, commentary, ''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi'', Special Edition (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 2004), disc 1.</ref>

Lucas fleshed out the Emperor in the prequel trilogy. According to Lucas, Palpatine's role in ''The Phantom Menace'' is to explain "how Anakin Skywalker [later Vader] came to be Palpatine's apprentice" and the events that sparked Palpatine's rise to totalitarian power after being a senate representative.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bowen |first=Jonathan L. |title=Anticipation: The Real-Life Story of Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace |date=2005 |publisher=iUniverse |isbn=978-0-595-34732-2 |location=Lincoln, Nebraska |page=4}}</ref> The film's novelization is the first time he is called Darth Sidious.<ref>Bowen, pp. 93–94.</ref> His home world, Naboo, is also home to Anakin's romantic interest, Padmé Amidala, who later becomes a senator of that planet.

In the Lucasfilm-authorized ''Star Wars and History'', Palpatine's consolidation of power is described as being similar to the first [[Social:Roman emperor|Roman emperor]], Augustus. Both legitimized authoritarian rule by saying that corruption in the Senate was hampering the powers of the head of state; both pressured the Senate to grant extraordinary powers to deal with a crisis, falsely claiming that they would rescind those powers once the crisis was over; and both relied on their strong control over military force.<ref>{{cite book |title=Star Wars and History |date=2012 |publisher=[[Company:Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]] |isbn=978-0470602003 |editor1-last=Liedl |editor1-first=Janice |location=Hoboken, New Jersey |editor2-last=Reagin |editor2-first=Nancy R.}}</ref>

===Portrayal===
When the Emperor first appeared in ''The Empire Strikes Back'', he was portrayed by Marjorie Eaton under heavy makeup.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wilkens |first=Alasdair |date=October 10, 2010 |title=Yoda was originally played by a monkey in a mask, and other secrets of The Empire Strikes Back |url=http://io9.com/5660319/yoda-was-originally-played-by-a-monkey-in-a-mask-and-other-secrets-of-the-empire-strikes-back |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017055944/http://io9.com/5660319/yoda-was-originally-played-by-a-monkey-in-a-mask-and-other-secrets-of-the-empire-strikes-back |archive-date=October 17, 2010 |access-date=October 10, 2010 |website=i09 |publisher=Univision Communications |location=New York City}}</ref> [[Biology:Common chimpanzee|Chimpanzee]] eyes were superimposed into darkened eye sockets during post-production.<ref name=":0" /> The character was voiced by Clive Revill.<ref name="PalpatineBTS">Palpatine, Behind the Scenes, at the [https://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine/?id=bts Star Wars Databank]. Retrieved May 18, 2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20061201010719/http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine/?id=bts Archived] December 1, 2006, at the [[Wayback Machine]].</ref> The makeup was sculpted by Phil Tippett and applied by Rick Baker,<ref name="Hidalgo twitter" /> who initially used his own wife, Elaine, for the makeup tests.<ref name="earwolf1" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Rinzler |first=J.W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-U0PAAAAQBAJ |title=The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back |date=October 22, 2013 |publisher=Ballantine Group |isbn=9780345543363 |edition=Enhanced |location=New York City}}</ref>

"With [director Irvin] Kershner," Revill said, "you had to keep the reins tight — you couldn't go overboard. It was the perfect example of the old adage 'less is more' — the Emperor doesn't say very much. But when he finally appears, it's at a point in the saga when everyone's waiting to see him. It's the Emperor, the arch-villain of all time, and when he says there's a great disturbance in the Force, I mean, that's enough ''oomph''!"<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Chernoff |first=Scott |date=May–June 2000 |title=Clive Revill: Voice of the Emperor |url=http://www.wizardsandwarriors.org/show/articles/starwars.htm |url-status=live |magazine=Star Wars Insider |location=London, England |publisher=Titan Magazines |issue=60 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409161125/http://www.wizardsandwarriors.org/show/articles/starwars.htm |archive-date=April 9, 2016 |access-date=January 8, 2018 |via=wizardsandwarriors.org}}</ref> Years later, during production of ''Revenge of the Sith'', Lucas decided to shoot new footage for ''The Empire Strikes Back'' to create continuity between the prequels and original trilogy. Thus, in the 2004 DVD release of ''The Empire Strikes Back'' Special Edition, the original version of the Emperor was replaced by Scottish Shakespearean actor Ian McDiarmid, and the dialogue between the Emperor and Darth Vader was revised.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hyde |first=Douglas |date=September 23, 2004 |title=Five major changes in the 'Star Wars' DVD |publisher=CNN |location=Atlanta, Georgia |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/20/star.changes/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 17, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303082041/http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/20/star.changes/index.html |archive-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref>

Lucas and director Richard Marquand cast McDiarmid to play Emperor Palpatine for ''Return of the Jedi''. He was in his late 30s and had never played a leading role in a feature film, though he had made minor appearances in films like ''Dragonslayer'' (1981). After ''Return of the Jedi'', he resumed stage acting in [[Place:London|London]].<ref name="ManofMystery">{{cite web |title=Ian McDiarmid: Dark Force Rising |url=https://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/bts/profile/f20020124/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112153958/http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/bts/profile/f20020124/index.html |archive-date=November 12, 2006 |access-date=August 17, 2006 |website=StarWars.com}}</ref> In an interview with ''BackStage'', McDiarmid revealed that he "never had his sights set on a film career and never even auditioned for the role of Palpatine." He elaborated, "I got called in for the interview after a ''Return of the Jedi'' casting director saw me perform in the Sam Shepard play ''Seduced'' at a studio theatre at the Royal Court. I was playing a dying [[Biography:Howard Hughes|Howard Hughes]]."<ref>{{cite news |last=Horwitz |first=Simi |date=May 25, 2006 |title=The Emperor's New Role |work=BackStage |publisher=Backstage, LLC |location=Los Angeles, California |url=http://www.backstage.com/bso/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002577371 |url-status=live |access-date=September 5, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200209120533/https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/emperors-new-role-43527/ |archive-date=February 9, 2020}}</ref>

McDiarmid was surprised when Lucas approached him 16 years after ''Return of the Jedi'' to reprise the role of Palpatine. In an interview, he stated, "When we were doing ''Return of the Jedi'' there was a rumor that George Lucas had nine films in his head, and he'd clearly just completed three of them." McDiarmid added, "Someone said that, 'Oh, I think what he might do next is go back in time, and show how Vader came to be.' It never occurred to me in a million years that I would be involved in that, because I thought, 'oh well, then he'll get a much younger actor to play Palpatine. That would be obvious." However, "I was the right age, ironically, for the first prequel when it was made. ... So I was in the very strange and rather wonderful paradox of playing myself when young at my own age, having played myself previously when 100-and-I-don't-know-what."<ref>{{cite web |date=April 14, 2005 |title=Palpatine Speaks |url=https://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/bts/profile/beacon134.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112122327/http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/bts/profile/beacon134.html |archive-date=November 12, 2006 |access-date=August 17, 2006 |website=Homing Beacon |via=StarWars.com |issue=134}}</ref>

Palpatine's role in the prequel films required McDiarmid to play two dimensions of the same character. Recalling the initial days of shooting ''The Phantom Menace'', McDiarmid stated, "Stepping onto the set of ''Episode I'' for the first time was like going back in time, due to my experience in ''Jedi''. Palpatine's an interesting character; he's conventional on the outside, but demonic on the inside — he's on the edge, trying to go beyond what's possible."<ref>{{cite web |title=Actors and Characters - Part II: ''Star Wars'' Episode I: Production Notes |url=https://www.starwars.com/episode-i/bts/production/f19990501/indexp5.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060530063902/http://www.starwars.com/episode-i/bts/production/f19990501/indexp5.html |archive-date=May 30, 2006 |access-date=August 17, 2006 |website=StarWars.com}}</ref> McDiarmid added another layer to the character in ''Attack of the Clones''. He noted, "[Palpatine] is a supreme actor. He has to be even more convincing than somebody who isn't behaving in a schizophrenic fashion, so he's extra charming, or extra professional — and for those who are looking for clues, that's almost where you can see them." McDiarmid illuminated on the scene where Padmé Amidala is almost assassinated:

{{blockquote|There's a moment in one scene of the new film where tears almost appear in his eye. These are [[Biology:Crocodile tears|crocodile tears]], but for all those in the movie, and perhaps watching the movie itself, they'll see he is apparently moved — and of course, he is. He can just do it. He can, as it were, turn it on. And I suppose for him, it's also a bit of a turn-on — the pure exercise of power is what he's all about. That's the only thing he's interested in and the only thing that can satisfy him — which makes him completely fascinating to play because it is an evil soul. He is more evil than the [[Philosophy:Devil|devil]]. At least [[Biography:Satan|Satan]] fell — he has a history, and it's one of revenge.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Exercise of Power: Ian McDiarmid: Dark Force Rising|url=https://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/bts/profile/f20020124/indexp2.html|website=StarWars.com|date=January 24, 2002|access-date=August 17, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215043150/http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/bts/profile/f20020124/indexp2.html |archive-date=December 15, 2006 }}</ref>}}

In ''Revenge of the Sith'', McDiarmid played a darker interpretation of the character. He explained that "when you're playing a character of solid blackness, that in itself is very interesting, in the sense that you have no other motivation other than the accumulation of power. It's not so much about not having a moral center, it's just that the only thing that mattered is increasing power." He admitted, "I've been trying to find a redeeming feature to Palpatine, and the only one I've got so far is that he's clearly a patron of the arts because he goes to the opera."<ref name="HB137">"Palpatine's Point of View," in ''Homing Beacon'' 137, May 26, 2005, [https://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/bts/profile/beacon137.html StarWars.com]. Retrieved August 17, 2006. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112122104/http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/bts/profile/beacon137.html|date=November 12, 2006}}</ref> McDiarmid compared the character to Iago from William Shakespeare's ''Othello'':

{{blockquote|Everything he does is an act of pure hypocrisy, and that's interesting to play. I suppose it's rather like playing Iago. All the characters in the play — including Othello until the end — think that "Honest Iago" is a decent guy doing his job, and he's quite liked. But at the same time, there's a tremendous evil [[Philosophy:Subconscious|subconscious]] in operation.<ref name="ManofMystery"/>}}

McDiarmid noticed that the script for ''Revenge of the Sith'' demanded more action from his character than in previous films. Lightsaber combat was a challenge to the 60-year-old actor, who, like his costars, took fencing lessons. The close-up shots and non-acrobatic sequences of the duel between Palpatine and Mace Windu were performed by McDiarmid.<ref>"Becoming Sidious," Web Documentary, ''Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith'', Bonus Materials (DVD, 20th Century Fox, 2005), disc 2; also available at [https://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/bts/me3/18.html StarWars.com]. Retrieved August 17, 2006. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060807013911/http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/bts/me3/18.html|date=August 7, 2006}}</ref> Advanced fencing and acrobatic stunts were executed by McDiarmid's doubles, Michael Byrne, Sebastian Dickins, and Bob Bowles.<ref>Cast and Crew of ''Revenge of the Sith'', at [https://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/castcrew.html StarWars.com]. Retrieved August 17, 2006. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060815190336/http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/castcrew.html|date=August 15, 2006}}</ref>

McDiarmid's performance as Palpatine was generally well received by critics. Todd McCarthy of ''Variety'' commented, "Entertaining from start to finish and even enthralling at times, 'Sith' has some acting worth writing home about, specifically McDiarmid's dominant turn as the mastermind of the evil empire."<ref>{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |date=May 5, 2005 |title=Revenge of the Sith |work=Variety |location=Los Angeles, California}}</ref>  Ed Halter of ''The Village Voice'' wrote that "Ian McDiarmid's unctuous Emperor turns appropriately [[Unsolved:Vampire|vampiric]] as he attempts to draw Anakin into the Sith fold with promises of eternal life."<ref>{{cite news |last=Halter |first=Ed |date=May 11, 2005 |title=May the Force Be Over; The end of the beginning: Lucas's adolescent space opera concludes in a CGI Sith Storm |work=The Village Voice |publisher=Voice Media Group |location=New York City |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0520,halter1,63970,20.html |url-status=dead |access-date=August 17, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628203757/http://www1.villagevoice.com/film/0520%2Chalter1%2C63970%2C20.html |archive-date=June 28, 2006}}</ref> Still, his performance was not without detractors; David Edelstein of ''Slate'' critiqued, "McDiarmid isn't the subtlest of satanic tempters. With his lisp and his clammy little leer, he looks like an old queen keen on trading an aging butt-boy (Count Dooku) for fresh meat — which leaves Anakin looking more and more like a 15-watt bulb."<ref>{{cite web |last=Edelstein |first=David |date=May 17, 2005 |title=The Passion of the ''Sith'': I dream of Jedi |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2118604 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911235416/http://www.slate.com/id/2118604/ |archive-date=September 11, 2011 |access-date=August 17, 2006 |work=Slate |publisher=The Slate Group |location=New York City}}</ref> McDiarmid had expressed interest in reprising the role of Palpatine in the planned ''Star Wars: Underworld'' TV series,<ref>{{cite web |last=Goldman |first=Eric |date=August 23, 2012 |title=Ian McDiarmid on Possibly Playing The Emperor in the Live-Action Star Wars TV Series |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/24/ian-mcdiarmid-on-possibly-playing-the-emperor-in-the-live-action-star-wars-tv-series |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221113626/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/24/ian-mcdiarmid-on-possibly-playing-the-emperor-in-the-live-action-star-wars-tv-series |archive-date=December 21, 2016 |access-date=December 19, 2016 |work=IGN |publisher=[[Company:J2 Global|J2 Global]] |location=San Francisco, California}}</ref> which remains un-produced, but according to Cory Barlog, would have depicted the character as "a sympathetic figure who was wronged by this fucking heartless woman. She's this hardcore gangster, and she just totally destroyed him as a person."<ref>{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Trent |date=June 23, 2016 |title=Aborted Star Wars Underworld TV series would've featured a 'sympathetic' Emperor Palpatine |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/aborted-star-wars-underworld-tv-series-wouldve-featured-sympathetic-emperor-palpatine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921091353/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/aborted-star-wars-underworld-tv-series-wouldve-featured-sympathetic-emperor-palpatine |archive-date=September 21, 2019 |access-date=September 21, 2019 |website=SyFy Wire}}</ref>

In the 2019 film ''The Rise of Skywalker'', McDiarmid returned to the role of Palpatine on screen for the first time since ''Revenge of the Sith''. McDiarmid spoke of the process behind Palpatine's first scene in the film:

{{blockquote|...the first thing I had to do — not everybody has a script — was when my voice was off-screen, as Kylo Ren was coming into my lair. So I had this microphone that we called the "God mic." Yes, it means it sounds like [[Religion:God|God]] and everyone can hear it in the recording studio in this vast soundstage. So everyone there heard my voice come back, after all, that time and it was a great moment.<ref name="LA Times"/>}}

McDiarmid was surprised to learn of the filmmakers' decision to bring back Palpatine, given the character died in ''Return of the Jedi''.<ref name="LA Times" /> The film's director, J. J. Abrams, spoke of Palpatine's inclusion in the sequel trilogy: "...when you look at this as nine chapters of a story, perhaps the weirder thing would be if Palpatine didn't return. You just look at what he talks about, who he is, how important he is, what the story is — strangely, his absence entirely from the third trilogy would be conspicuous".<ref>{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Mike |date=November 25, 2019 |title=J.J. Abrams On ''The Rise Of Skywalker'' And The Return Of Palpatine (And, Yes, Maclunkey) |url=https://uproxx.com/movies/jj-abrams-interview-the-rise-of-skywalker-star-wars/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109122131/https://uproxx.com/movies/jj-abrams-interview-the-rise-of-skywalker-star-wars/ |archive-date=January 9, 2020 |access-date=January 11, 2020 |website=Uproxx |publisher=Uproxx Media Group |location=Culver City, California}}</ref> On Palpatine's portrayal in the film, McDiarmid said, "he's fairly physically impaired, but his mind is as sharp as ever."<ref name="LA Times" />

===Make-up and costumes===
[[File:Star Wars and the Power of Costume July 2018 34 (Chancellor Palpatine's Trade Federation robes from Episode III).jpg|thumb|Chancellor Palpatine's robes from ''Episode III – Revenge of the Sith'']]
Transforming McDiarmid into Emperor Palpatine in ''Return of the Jedi'' required extensive makeup. McDiarmid remarked in an interview with ''Star Wars Insider'', "Yes—that was a four-hour job, initially, although we got it down to about two-and-a-half in the end. But this was just a little bit of [[Chemistry:Latex|latex]] here and there, a little bit of skin-scrunching."<ref name="ReturninEII">{{cite web |date=December 15, 2006 |title=Ian McDiarmid: Dark Force Rising |url=https://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/bts/profile/f20020124/indexp3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215043157/http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/bts/profile/f20020124/indexp3.html |archive-date=December 15, 2006 |access-date=April 24, 2019 |website=StarWars.com}}</ref> Film critic [[Biography:Roger Ebert|Roger Ebert]] wrote that the Emperor "looks uncannily like [[Social:Death (personification)|Death]] in ''The Seventh Seal'',"<ref>{{cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=March 14, 1997 |title=Return of the Jedi, Special Edition |work=Chicago Sun-Times |publisher=Sun-Times Media Group |location=Chicago, Illinois |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19970314%2FREVIEWS%2F703140303%2F1023 |url-status=live |access-date=August 17, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010051801/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19970314%2FREVIEWS%2F703140303%2F1023 |archive-date=October 10, 2012 |via=rogerebert.com}}</ref> and film historian Robin Wood compares him to the hag from ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' (1937).<ref>{{cite book |last=Wood |first=Robin |url=https://archive.org/details/hollywoodfromvie00robi/page/154 |title=Hollywood from Vietnam to Reagan...and Beyond: A Revised and Expanded Edition of the Classic Text |date=2003 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-12966-4 |location=New York City |page=[https://archive.org/details/hollywoodfromvie00robi/page/154 154] |author-link=Robin Wood (film historian)}}</ref> McDiarmid remarked, "When my face changes in [''Revenge of the Sith''], my mind went back to the early silent movie of ''The Phantom of the Opera'' with Lon Chaney."<ref name="HB137" /> Conversely, he required little makeup in ''The Phantom Menace'' and ''Attack of the Clones''. He recalled, "I'm ... slightly aged [in ''AotC'']. In the last film, I had a fairly standard make-up on, but now, they're starting to crinkle my face."<ref name="ReturninEII" />

Palpatine's wardrobe in the prequels, tailored by costume designer Trisha Biggar, played an important part in the development of the character. In ''Attack of the Clones'', explained McDiarmid, "The costumes ... have got much more edge to them, I think than the mere senator had in ''The Phantom Menace''. So we see the trappings of power."<ref name="ReturninEII" /> On ''Revenge of the Sith'', McDiarmid said that "To wear the costumes as the character I play is wonderfully empowering."<ref name="CraftinRevenge">{{cite web |title=An Introduction to Episode III: Crafting ''Revenge'' |url=https://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/bts/production/f20050518/indexp3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051214182652/http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/bts/production/f20050518/indexp3.html |archive-date=December 14, 2005 |access-date=August 17, 2006 |website=StarWars.com |publisher=Lucasfilm |location=San Francisco, California}}</ref> McDiarmid's favorite costume in the film was a high-collared jacket that resembles [[Biology:Snake|snake]] or [[Biology:Lizard|lizard]] skin. He stated that "it just feels reptilian, which is exactly right for [Palpatine]." According to Biggar, the character's costumes proved the most daunting challenge. She said, "His six costumes get progressively darker and more ornately decorated throughout the movie. He wears greys and browns, almost going to black, taking him toward the dark side."<ref name="CraftinRevenge" />

In ''The Rise of Skywalker'', Palpatine is unable to move without the aid of a large machine, to which he is attached.<ref name="Polygon Costume" /> He is depicted as having eyes without pupils and rotting hands.<ref name="Polygon Costume" /> Costume designer Michael Kaplan opted to dress Palpatine in a utilitarian black robe, which he wears for the majority of the film.<ref name="THR Costume">{{cite magazine |last=Sporn |first=Stephanie |date=December 20, 2019 |title=How Michael Kaplan Costumed 700 Creatures in ''The Rise of Skywalker'' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-michael-kaplan-costumed-700-creatures-rise-skywalker-1264308 |url-status=live |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |location=Los Angeles, California |publisher=Eldridge Industries |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104011701/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-michael-kaplan-costumed-700-creatures-rise-skywalker-1264308 |archive-date=January 4, 2020 |access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref> At the end of the film, Palpatine rejuvenates himself using the Force and becomes physically mobile.<ref name="Polygon Costume" /> He dons a new costume — a formal robe with red velvet — which Kaplan refers to as "his true Emperor's garb".<ref name="THR Costume" />

== Character overview ==
In the ''Star Wars'' fictional universe, Palpatine is initially a senator from Naboo, presenting himself to the public as a champion of democracy.<ref name="Martin M. Winkler 2001. Pp. 287">{{cite book|first=Martin M.|last=Winkler|title=Classical Myth & Culture in the Cinema|url=https://archive.org/details/classicalmythcul00wink|url-access=limited|publisher=[[Organization:Oxford University Press|Oxford University Press]]|location=Oxford, England|date=2001|page=[https://archive.org/details/classicalmythcul00wink/page/n297 287]|isbn=978-0195130041}}</ref> However, he is really '''Darth Sidious''', a Dark Lord of the Sith who plans to destroy the Jedi and take permanent control of the galaxy.<ref name="Martin M. Winkler 2001. Pp. 287"/> As Sidious, Palpatine engineers the invasion of Naboo, using the conflict to get elected as Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. He further masterminds the Clone Wars to grant himself [[Social:Dictator|dictator]]ial emergency powers and stay in office long after his term expires.<ref name="Databank2020">{{cite web|title=Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious|url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/emperor-palpatine-darth-sidious|access-date=January 24, 2020|website=Star Wars Databank|archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628231042/http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine/?id=bts|url-status=live}}</ref>

Palpatine proceeds to almost entirely exterminate the Jedi through Order 66 and manipulate Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker into becoming his new apprentice, Darth Vader.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/history-of-palpatine-part-two/ |title=The Emperor Reborn: How the ''Star Wars'' Prequels and the New Disney Canon Reshape Palpatine |website=/Film |date=November 6, 2019 |access-date=January 24, 2020 |first=Adam |last=Frazier |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215183959/https://www.slashfilm.com/history-of-palpatine-part-two/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He transforms the Galactic Republic into the Empire and declares himself Emperor, using [[Biography:Niccolò Machiavelli#Beliefs|Machiavellian]] manipulation to invoke martial law. Palpatine rules the galaxy for over two decades before Vader betrays and kills him to save his son, Luke Skywalker.<ref name="Databank2020"/>

Unbeknownst to the galaxy, Palpatine resurrects himself through the dark side of the Force.<ref name="Databank2020"/> He secretly masterminds the First Order to restore the Empire, with Supreme Leader Snoke as his puppet ruler.<ref name="Vanity Fair">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/12/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-easter-eggs-callbacks-references |title=A Guide to All the Old ''Star Wars'' References in ''The Rise of Skywalker'' |magazine=Vanity Fair |publisher=Condé Nast |location=New York City |date=December 20, 2019 |access-date=December 20, 2019 |first1=Joanna |last1=Robinson |first2=Anthony |last2=Breznican |archive-date=December 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222145324/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/12/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-easter-eggs-callbacks-references |url-status=live }}</ref> Having covertly turned Kylo Ren—Anakin's grandson and Luke's nephew—to the dark side, Palpatine orders Ren to find and kill Rey, the last remaining Jedi and Palpatine's paternal granddaughter.<ref name="Time">{{cite web|first=Megan|last=McCluskey|url=https://time.com/5752170/who-are-reys-parents/|title=Breaking Down That Shocking Rey Reveal in ''Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker''|magazine={{wipe|Time (magazine)}}|publisher=Meredith Corporation|location=New York City|date=December 20, 2019|access-date=December 21, 2019|archive-date=December 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222013348/https://time.com/5752170/who-are-reys-parents/|url-status=live}}</ref> Palpatine is ultimately defeated and destroyed by Rey.<ref name="Time"/>

Palpatine is depicted as a cunning politician, a ruthless emperor, and an evil Sith Lord. The ''Star Wars'' Databank describes him as "the supreme ruler of the most powerful tyrannical regime the galaxy had ever witnessed".<ref name="PalpatineDatabank" /> As a senator, Palpatine is "unassuming, yet ambitious".<ref name="PalpatineDatabank" />

As Emperor, Palpatine abandons any semblance of democracy, as noted in ''A New Hope'', when he abolishes the Imperial Senate.

''Revenge of the Sith'' implies that Palpatine was the apprentice of Darth Plagueis.

==Appearances==
===Canon===
====Films====

Palpatine is the main antagonist in the Skywalker saga (1977–2019), appearing in all three film trilogies.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2019/12/12/star-wars-the-rise-of-skwalker-brings-back-emperor-palpatine/4399755002/ |title=The Emperor strikes back! Why an 'absolutely dead' 'Star Wars' villain returns in 'Rise of Skywalker' |newspaper=[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]] |date=December 12, 2019 |accessdate=May 11, 2021 |first=Brian |last=Truitt |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308160437/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2019/12/12/star-wars-the-rise-of-skwalker-brings-back-emperor-palpatine/4399755002/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=====Original trilogy=====
The character is referred to as "the Emperor" in the original trilogy. He is briefly mentioned in ''Star Wars'' (1977), the first film in the original trilogy, which was later subtitled ''Episode IV{{snd}}A New Hope''. On the [[Unsolved:Death Star|Death Star]], Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing) explains to his fellow Imperials that the Emperor has dissolved the Imperial Senate, the last remnant of the Old Republic.<ref name="Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope">{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox|location=Los Angeles, California|year=1977|edition=2004}}</ref> The Emperor does not appear on-screen, leaving Tarkin and Darth Vader (portrayed by David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones) as the film's main villains.<ref name="Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope"/>

The Emperor first appears in ''The Empire Strikes Back'', the 1980 sequel to the original film. He appears as a hologram to inform Vader that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has become a threat to the Empire. Vader persuades him that the young Jedi would be a great asset if he could be turned to the dark side of the Force.<ref name="PalpatineDatabank">{{cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine/|title=Palpatine|website=Star Wars Databank|access-date=February 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216025044/http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine|archive-date=December 16, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1983's ''Return of the Jedi'', the Emperor appears in person to oversee the last stages of the second [[Unsolved:Death Star|Death Star]]'s construction. He assures Vader that they will together turn Luke, Vader's son, to the dark side of the Force. Unbeknownst to Vader, the Emperor plans to replace him with Luke; Vader, meanwhile, intends to overthrow the Emperor and rule the galaxy with Luke at his side. When Vader brings Luke before his master, the Emperor tempts Luke to join the dark side by appealing to the young Jedi's fear for his friends, whom he has lured into a trap.<ref name="PalpatineDatabank"/> This leads to a [[Engineering:Lightsaber|lightsaber]] duel in which Luke defeats and nearly kills Vader. The Emperor urges Luke to kill Vader and take his place, but Luke refuses and declares himself a Jedi. Enraged, the Emperor attacks Luke with Force lightning. Unable to bear the sight of his son in pain, Vader throws the Emperor down a chasm shortly before the Death Star is destroyed.<ref name="PalpatineDatabank"/>

=====Prequel trilogy=====
[[File:Palpatine1.jpg|left|thumb|Ian McDiarmid as Senator Palpatine in ''Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'' (1999)]]

In the 1999 prequel ''Episode I: The Phantom Menace'', set 32 years before ''A New Hope'', Palpatine (named onscreen for the first time) is depicted as a middle-aged Galactic Senator from the planet Naboo.<ref name="PalpatineDatabank"/> As his [[Philosophy:Alter ego|alter ego]], the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, he advises the corrupt Trade Federation to blockade and invade Naboo.<ref name="PalpatineDatabank"/> Queen Padmé Amidala of Naboo (Natalie Portman) flees to the planet [[Unsolved:Coruscant|Coruscant]] to receive counsel from Palpatine, unaware that he actually engineered the invasion. After a plea for help from the Senate results in [[Organization:Bureaucracy|bureaucratic]] delays, Palpatine persuades Padmé to call for a motion of no confidence against Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum (Terence Stamp).<ref name="TPM">{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox|location=Los Angeles, California|year=1999}}</ref>

When Padmé attempts to liberate Naboo, Sidious sends his apprentice [[Social:Darth Maul|Darth Maul]] (portrayed by Ray Park, voiced by Peter Serafinowicz) to capture her. The invasion is eventually thwarted and Maul is defeated in a lightsaber duel with Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor).<ref name="PalpatineDatabank"/> Palpatine uses the crisis to get elected as the new Chancellor of the Republic. He then returns to Naboo, where he befriends the nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), telling the boy, "We will watch your career with great interest."<ref name="TPM"/>

In the 2002 sequel ''Episode II: Attack of the Clones'', set 10 years later, Palpatine [[Social:Continuismo|exploits constitutional loopholes to remain in office after his term expires.]] Meanwhile, as Sidious, he continues to manipulate events from behind the scenes by having his new Sith apprentice Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) lead a movement of planets in seceding to form the Confederacy of Independent Systems.<ref name="PalpatineDatabank"/> He has the Separatists try to assassinate Padmé, now a senator, but the attempt on her life fails. He then arranges for Anakin (now played by Hayden Christensen) to guard Padmé on Naboo, which leads to them falling in love and marrying in secret.<ref name="AOTC">{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox|location=Los Angeles, California|year=2002}}</ref>

With the Separatists secretly building a battle droid army, Palpatine uses the situation to have himself granted [[Social:State of emergency|emergency powers]].<ref name="PalpatineDatabank"/> Palpatine feigns reluctance to accept this authority, promising to return it to the Senate once the crisis has ended. His first act is to allow a [[Biology:Human cloning|clone]] army's creation to counter the Separatist threat; this results in the first battle of the Clone Wars. With the galaxy now at war as Sidious planned, Dooku brings him the secret plans for the Death Star.<ref name="AOTC"/>

In the 2005 sequel ''Episode III: Revenge of the Sith'', set three years later, Palpatine is captured by [[Cyborg|cyborg]] Separatist leader [[Social:General Grievous|General Grievous]] (voiced by Matthew Wood). Palpatine is rescued by Anakin and Obi-Wan, but not before the Jedi confront Dooku again. A duel ensues in which Anakin kills Dooku at Palpatine's urging. Palpatine then escapes with his rescuers and returns to Coruscant. By this point, Palpatine has become a virtual dictator, able to take any action in the Senate. He makes Anakin his personal representative on the Jedi Council, whose members deny Anakin the rank of Jedi Master and order him to spy on the Chancellor. Palpatine tells Anakin the story of Darth Plagueis, a powerful Sith Lord who was able to create life and prevent death, but was killed by his own apprentice.{{efn|name=Plagueis|In the rough draft of ''Revenge of the Sith'', Palpatine tells Anakin that he "used the power of the Force to will the midichlorians to start the [[Biology:Cell division|cell division]]s" that conceived him.<ref name=slash/> Prequel trilogy producer Rick McCallum has stated that the scene in which Palpatine relates the story of Darth Plagueis is about Anakin's origins.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith ''audio commentary''|medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox Home Entertainment|year=2005|time=45}}</ref>}} Eventually, Palpatine reveals his secret Sith identity to Anakin; he knows that Anakin has been having prophetic visions of Padmé dying in childbirth, and offers to teach him Plagueis' secrets to save Padmé's life.<ref name="ROTS">{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox|location=Los Angeles, California|year=2005}}</ref>

Anakin informs Jedi Master Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) of Palpatine's treachery. With three other Jedi masters at his side, Windu attempts to arrest Palpatine, but Palpatine produces a lightsaber and quickly dispatches all but Windu. Palpatine engages Windu in a duel and attacks him with Force lightning; Windu deflects the lightning back into Palpatine's face, deforming it into the gray, wizened visage first seen in the original trilogy. Before Windu can kill Palpatine, Anakin appears and intervenes on the Sith Lord's behalf, allowing Palpatine to kill Windu with another blast of lightning. Anakin then pledges himself to the dark side as Palpatine's Sith apprentice, Darth Vader.<ref name="ROTS"/>

Palpatine issues Order 66, commanding the clone troopers to turn on their Jedi generals,<ref name="PalpatineDatabank"/> while dispatching Vader to kill everyone inside the Jedi Temple and then murder the Separatist leaders on the planet Mustafar. Palpatine then reorganizes the Republic into the Galactic Empire, with himself as Emperor.<ref name="PalpatineDatabank"/> Jedi Master Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) confronts Palpatine and engages him in a lightsaber duel that ends in a stalemate.<ref name="PalpatineDatabank"/> Sensing that Vader is in danger, Palpatine travels to Mustafar and finds his new apprentice near death following a duel with Obi-Wan. After returning to Coruscant, he rebuilds Vader's burned, mutilated body with the black armored suit from the original trilogy. Palpatine then tells Vader that Padmé was killed in the heat of Vader's anger, breaking what remains of Vader's spirit. Palpatine is last seen watching the original Death Star's construction, with Vader and Wilhuff Tarkin (Wayne Pygram) at his side.<ref name="ROTS"/>

=====Sequel trilogy=====
In the sequel trilogy, set three decades following the events of ''Return of the Jedi'', the First Order has risen from the fallen Empire and seeks to destroy the New Republic, the Resistance, and Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. In the trilogy's first installment, ''The Force Awakens'' (2015), Palpatine's voice is heard during a vision that the protagonist Rey (Daisy Ridley) experiences upon touching Luke and Anakin's lightsaber.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kristen|last=Acuna|url=https://www.thisisinsider.com/star-wars-reys-vision-explained-2017-7|title=A new book reveals details about Rey's vision in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' you may have missed before|website=Insider Inc.|publisher=Axel Springer SE|location=New York City|date=July 26, 2017|access-date=April 3, 2019|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404044009/https://www.thisisinsider.com/star-wars-reys-vision-explained-2017-7|url-status=live}}</ref> In the sequel, ''The Last Jedi'' (2017), Luke briefly mentions Palpatine as Darth Sidious while explaining the fall of the Jedi Order to Rey.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/history-of-palpatine-part-three/ |title=The Emperor Reborn: What Palpatine's Return Means For ''The Rise of Skywalker'' |website=/Film |date=November 7, 2019 |access-date=December 31, 2019 |first=Adam |last=Frazier |archive-date=November 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108142500/https://www.slashfilm.com/history-of-palpatine-part-three/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Palpatine, again played by McDiarmid, appears in the trilogy's final film, ''The Rise of Skywalker'' (2019). Prior to the film's opening, Palpatine threatens revenge against the galaxy, having used the dark side to cheat death.<ref name="Databank2020"/>{{efn|name=clone|While ''The Rise of Skywalker'' (2019) is ambiguous about Palpatine's return, the film proposes the explanation: "dark science, cloning, secrets only the Sith knew".<ref name="TROS">{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker|medium=[[Engineering:Blu-ray|Blu-ray]]|publisher=Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|location=Los Angeles, California|year=2019}}</ref> Palpatine himself attributes his return to "unnatural" dark side abilities.<ref name="Vanity Fair"/> The film's novelization reveals that Palpatine had used Darth Plagueis' knowledge to cheat death by transferring his [[Philosophy:Consciousness|consciousness]] into a clone body.<ref name="ROS Novel">{{cite book|first=Rae|last=Carson|title=Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Expanded Edition |publisher=Del Rey Books|location=New York City|date=2020|isbn=978-0593128404}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Fraser |first=Kevin |title=''Rise of Skywalker'' novel explains how the Emperor survived ''Return of the Jedi'' |url=https://www.joblo.com/movie-news/rise-of-skywalker-novel-explains-how-the-emperor-survived-return-of-the-jedi |website=JoBlo.com |access-date=March 4, 2020 |date=March 4, 2020 |archive-date=June 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615075036/https://www.joblo.com/movie-news/rise-of-skywalker-novel-explains-how-the-emperor-survived-return-of-the-jedi |url-status=live }}</ref>}} This prompts First Order leader and fallen Jedi Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)—the grandson of Anakin and nephew of Luke—to seek him out on the Sith planet Exegol, where a physically impaired Palpatine is supported by machinery.<ref name="LA Times">{{cite news|first=Christina|last=Schoellkopf|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-12-17/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-palpatine|title=Emperor Palpatine actor was done with ''Star Wars.'' Then J.J. Abrams called|newspaper={{wipe|Los Angeles Times}}|location=Los Angeles, California|date=December 17, 2019|access-date=December 18, 2019|archive-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218003439/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-12-17/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-palpatine|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Polygon Costume">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/12/19/21030344/how-is-emperor-palpatine-alive-in-star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-snoke-kylo-rey-vader-spoilers |title=Answering the biggest questions about Emperor Palpatine's return to ''Star Wars'' |website=Polygon |date=December 19, 2019 |access-date=January 11, 2020 |first=Dave |last=Gonzales |archive-date=December 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221113548/https://www.polygon.com/2019/12/19/21030344/how-is-emperor-palpatine-alive-in-star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-snoke-kylo-rey-vader-spoilers |url-status=live }}</ref> Palpatine reveals himself as the mastermind behind the First Order and Ren's former master, Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), whom he created to lure Ren to the dark side.<ref name="Vanity Fair"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-first-order-reveals/ |title=''Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker'' Finally Explains How The First Order Are So Powerful |website=Screen Rant |publisher=Valnet Inc. |location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada |date=December 25, 2019 |access-date=January 2, 2020 |first=Adrienne |last=Tyler |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231021007/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-first-order-reveals/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He then unveils the Final Order, a massive fleet of Star Destroyers built by the Sith Eternal. Palpatine offers the fleet to Ren on the condition that he find and kill the galaxy's last remaining Jedi, Rey, who is revealed to be Palpatine's granddaughter.<ref name="Time"/> It is subsequently revealed that Palpatine had a son who renounced him; the son and his partner took their daughter Rey to the planet Jakku, assuming lives as "nobodies" to keep her safe. Palpatine's assassin Ochi eventually found Rey's parents and killed them on his orders, but never found Rey.<ref name="Time"/>

Near the end of the film, Rey arrives on Exegol to confront Palpatine. Surrounded by his Sith loyalists, Palpatine embodies all the Sith's power.<ref name="Databank2020"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2019/12/21/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-exegol-sith-planet-wayfinder-explained |title=''Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker's'' Hidden Planet Explained |website=IGN |publisher=[[Company:J2 Global|j2 Global]] |location=San Francisco, California |date=December 21, 2019 |access-date=December 25, 2019 |first=Jesse |last=Schedeen |archive-date=December 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222220429/https://uk.ign.com/articles/2019/12/21/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-exegol-sith-planet-wayfinder-explained |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TROS"/> He orders Rey to kill him in anger so his spirit can pass into her, which will allow him to [[Unsolved:Spirit possession|possess her body]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-palpatine-plan-sith-ritual/ |title=''Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'' - Palpatine's Plan & Sith Ritual Explained |website=Screen Rant |publisher=Valnet Inc. |location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada |date=December 26, 2019 |access-date=January 4, 2020 |first=Craig |last=Elvy |archive-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227143717/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-palpatine-plan-sith-ritual/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Rey refuses, and she and Ren (now the redeemed Ben Solo) confront Palpatine together. Sensing their power as a [[Social:Dyad (sociology)|dyad]] in the Force, Palpatine absorbs their life energy to rejuvenate his body. He incapacitates Ben and attacks the Resistance fleet with Force lightning. Rey uses the power of the past Jedi to face Palpatine once more; he attacks her with lightning, but Rey deflects it using the Skywalker lightsabers, destroying Palpatine.<ref name="Time"/><ref name="TROS"/>

==== Television ====

===== ''The Clone Wars'' =====
In the 2008 animated film ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' and the subsequent animated series (set between ''Attack of the Clones'' and ''Revenge of the Sith''), Palpatine continues to serve as Supreme Chancellor while his Sith identity orchestrates the Clone Wars behind the scenes. Palpatine was voiced by Ian Abercrombie (from 2008 to his death in 2012), and by Tim Curry (from 2012 to 2014).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/arts/television/ian-abercrombie-elaines-boss-on-seinfeld-dies-at-77.html |title=Ian Abercrombie, Who Played the Boss on ''Seinfeld'', Dies at 77 |newspaper={{wipe|The New York Times}} |location=New York City |date=February 1, 2012 |access-date=January 18, 2020 |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123210451/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/arts/television/ian-abercrombie-elaines-boss-on-seinfeld-dies-at-77.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Bryan|last=Young|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tim-curry-star-wars_b_2776241|title=Exclusive: Tim Curry Joins ''Star Wars''|website=Huffington Post|location=New York City|date=February 28, 2013|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806045715/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tim-curry-star-wars_b_2776241|url-status=live}}</ref> In the film, Sidious engineers a Separatist plot in which Count Dooku (voiced by Corey Burton) turns Jabba the Hutt (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) against the Republic by kidnapping his son Rotta and framing the Jedi for it. Meanwhile, Palpatine suggests that the Republic ally itself with the Hutts. Although Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano (voiced by Ashley Eckstein) foil the plot, the outcome suits Palpatine's ends: Jabba places Hutt hyperspace routes at the Republic's disposal.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars: The Clone Wars|medium=DVD|publisher=Warner Bros. Pictures|year=2008}}</ref>

In season two of the TV series, Sidious hires bounty hunter Cad Bane (voiced by Corey Burton) to infiltrate the Jedi Temple and steal a holocron. He then takes a valuable Kyber memory crystal that contains the names of thousands of Force-sensitive younglings – the future of the Jedi Order – from around the galaxy. The final stage of the plot: to bring four Force-sensitive children to Sidious' secret facility on Mustafar. Anakin and Ahsoka again foil the plot, but Bane escapes and all evidence of Sidious' involvement is lost.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 2: Rise of the Bounty Hunters|medium=DVD|publisher=Warner Bros. Television|location=Los Angeles, California|year=2009}}</ref> In season three, Sidious senses Dooku's assassin Asajj Ventress (voiced by Nika Futterman) becoming powerful in the dark side and orders Dooku to eliminate her; he suspects that Dooku is planning to have Ventress assassinate him. Ventress survives and her revenge against Dooku sets off a chain of events including the return of Sidious' former apprentice and Dooku's predecessor, Darth Maul.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3: Secrets Revealed|medium=DVD|publisher=Warner Bros. Television|location=Los Angeles, California|year=2010}}</ref>

In season five, Sidious personally travels to the planet Mandalore to confront Maul, who has become the leader of Death Watch. Sidious kills Maul's brother Savage Opress (voiced by Clancy Brown) before torturing Maul with the intent to make use of his former apprentice. In season six, Sidious goes to lengths to conceal his plan from the Jedi by silencing Clone Trooper Fives from learning of Order 66, and having Dooku wipe out anything tied to the former Jedi Master's connection to the conspiracy.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5|medium=DVD|publisher=Warner Bros. Television|date=2012–13}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 6: The Lost Missions|medium=DVD|publisher=Lucasfilm Ltd.|location=Los Angeles, California|year=2014}}</ref>

===== ''Rebels'' =====
[[File:Sam_Witwer_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Sam Witwer originally provided the voice for Palpatine in ''Rebels'']]

In ''Star Wars Rebels'', set between ''Revenge of the Sith'' and ''A New Hope'', Palpatine is portrayed as the Emperor of the Galactic Empire. He briefly appears off-screen at the end of season two's premiere "The Siege of Lothal" (originally voiced by Sam Witwer and later Ian McDiarmid from 2019). Darth Vader informs Palpatine that the Rebel Alliance cell on Lothal has been broken and that Ahsoka Tano is alive and is now helping the Rebels. Palpatine sees this as an opportunity to seek out other remaining Jedi, ordering Vader to dispatch an Inquisitor to hunt down Ahsoka.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars Rebels Season 2|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Company:The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney]]|year=2015}}</ref>

Palpatine returns physically in season four (voiced again by McDiarmid). In the episodes "Wolves and a Door" and "A World Between Worlds", he appears as a hologram overseeing the excavation of the Lothal Jedi Temple, which contains a portal to a separate dimension of the Force outside of space and time, which Palpatine considers a 'conduit between the living and the dead' that could give him unrivaled power of the Force itself if he can access it. Shortly after protagonist Ezra Bridger (voiced by Taylor Gray) reaches through time and space to rescue Ahsoka from Vader, Palpatine sets up a portal that shows Jedi Master Kanan Jarrus' (voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr.) final moments. While Ezra wants to reach through the portal and rescue Kanan, Ahsoka convinces him not to. Palpatine then reveals himself through the portal and attacks Ezra with Force lightning. However, Ahsoka and Ezra manage to evade him and go their separate ways, thus denying Palpatine full power.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Star Wars Rebels Season 4|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Company:The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney]]|location=Los Angeles, California|year=2017}}</ref>

Palpatine later returns in the [[Engineering:Series finale|series finale]] "Family Reunion - and Farewell". In the episode, Ezra, having surrendered himself to Grand Admiral Thrawn (voiced by Lars Mikkelsen) to protect Lothal, is taken by him to a room containing a reconstructed section of the ruined Jedi Temple and a hologram of Palpatine as he appears in the prequel films. Palpatine, having acknowledged the threat Ezra poses to the Empire, presents himself as a kindly old man and shows Ezra a vision of his dead parents through a doorway, promising that the youth will be with them if he enters it. Ezra is initially mesmerized by Palpatine's promise and goes to enter the door, but finally resists and destroys the reconstructed Jedi Temple and the illusion. Palpatine's hologram emerges from the rubble, flickering to show his true self, and commands his Royal Guards to kill Ezra, though Ezra manages to defeat them and escape. According to series creator Dave Filoni, the events of ''Rogue One'' and ''A New Hope'' happen shortly after this episode, thus refocusing Palpatine's attention from Ezra and Lothal's liberation to the Rebel Alliance and Luke Skywalker.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Hanh|last=Nguyen|url=http://www.indiewire.com/2018/03/star-wars-rebels-finale-sabine-ezra-dave-filoni-1201936350/|title='Star Wars Rebels' Finale: That Surprise Ending Cameo, Ezra's Big Face-Off, and Possibilities for the Future|website=IndieWire|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|location=Los Angeles, California|date=March 6, 2018|access-date=June 23, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623193928/http://www.indiewire.com/2018/03/star-wars-rebels-finale-sabine-ezra-dave-filoni-1201936350/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===== ''The Bad Batch'' =====
Palpatine appears in the first season of the 2021 animated series ''Star Wars: The Bad Batch''. The series is set during (and immediately following) the events of the 2005 film ''Revenge of the Sith''. The series' first episode depicts Palpatine's senate speech from the film in animated form, using the archive sound of McDiarmid's dialogue. As in the film, Palpatine orders the extermination of the Jedi and declares himself emperor.<ref>{{cite web |first=David|last=Miller|url=https://screenrant.com/bad-batch-episode-1-revenge-sith-footage-reused/ |title=Every ''Revenge of the Sith'' Scene in ''Bad Batch'' Episode 1 |website=Screen Rant |publisher=Valnet, Inc. |location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada |date=May 6, 2021 |accessdate=May 8, 2021 |archive-date=May 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508090746/https://screenrant.com/bad-batch-episode-1-revenge-sith-footage-reused/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===== ''Obi-Wan Kenobi'' =====
Palpatine appears in the sixth episode of the 2022 series ''Obi-Wan Kenobi''. The series is set ten years after ''Revenge of the Sith''. After Darth Vader is defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi following their second duel, Palpatine contacts Vader in his Mustafar castle via hologram, questioning Vader's motives and loyalty when Vader reports that he will not rest until Obi-Wan is found. Vader reassures Palpatine that Obi-Wan does not mean anything, reaffirms his commitment to Palpatine and abandons his search.<ref name="IanMcDiarmidLiamNeeson">{{Cite web |last=Outlaw |first=Kofi |date=June 22, 2022 |title=Obi-Wan Kenobi Finale Features Some Major Star Wars Character Cameos |url=https://comicbook.com/starwars/news/obi-wan-kenobi-qui-gon-jinn-liam-neeson-finale-spoilers-cameos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622115849/https://comicbook.com/starwars/news/obi-wan-kenobi-qui-gon-jinn-liam-neeson-finale-spoilers-cameos/ |archive-date=June 22, 2022 |access-date=June 22, 2022 |website=ComicBook.com}}</ref>

===== ''Tales of the Jedi'' =====
Darth Sidous appears in the fourth episode of the ''Tales of the Jedi'' TV series talking with Darth Tyrranus.

==== Books and comics ====
The first appearance of Palpatine in ''Star Wars'' literature was in the prologue of Alan Dean Foster's ghostwritten novelization of the script of ''A New Hope'', published as ''Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker'' (1976).<ref name="Lucas1">{{cite book|first1=George|last1=Lucas|first2=Alan Dean|last2=Foster|author-link2=Alan Dean Foster|title=Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker|medium=paperback|publisher=Del Ray Books|location=New York City|date=1976|page=1|isbn=978-0-345-26079-6}}</ref>{{sfn|Kaminski|2008|p=172}} His background as a senator of the Republic was explored in James Kahn's novelization of ''Return of the Jedi''.<ref name=kahn/>

Palpatine also appears in Rae Carson's novelization of ''The Rise of Skywalker'', which expands upon the film's story. In the book, Palpatine is revealed to have discovered the "secret to immortality" from his former master, Darth Plagueis, using this knowledge to survive after his death in ''Return of the Jedi''.<ref name="ROS Novel" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/starwars/2020/03/04/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-emperor-palpatine-return-darth-plagueis/ |title=''Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'' Novelization Details How Palpatine Survived the Death Star II, Thanks to Plagueis |website=Comicbook.com |date=March 4, 2020 |access-date=March 21, 2020 |first=Patrick |last=Cavanaugh |archive-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321091339/https://comicbook.com/starwars/2020/03/04/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-emperor-palpatine-return-darth-plagueis/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|name=clone}} The novelization also describes Palpatine's son as a failed clone of himself.<ref name="ROS Novel" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Agar |first=Chris |title=''Star Wars'' Confirms Rey's Father Is A Failed Palpatine Clone |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-rey-father-palpatine-clone/ |website=Screen Rant |publisher=Valnet Inc. |location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada |access-date=March 4, 2020 |date=March 4, 2020 |archive-date=March 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305053823/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-rey-father-palpatine-clone/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the 2021 book ''Skywalker: A Family at War'' describes Palpatine's son as an "offshoot of [his] genetic research, not precisely a clone but made of cloned tissue and donated cells."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/star-wars-skywalker-family-history-uncovers-ben-solo-an-1846619340 |title=Star Wars' Skywalker Family History Uncovers Ben Solo and Rey's Childhoods |website=i09 |date=April 5, 2021 |accessdate=April 7, 2021 |first=Germain |last=Lussier |archive-date=April 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406005803/https://io9.gizmodo.com/star-wars-skywalker-family-history-uncovers-ben-solo-an-1846619340 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Kristin|last=Baver|title=Star Wars Skywalker: A Family at War|publisher=DK|location=London, England|date=2021|isbn=978-0241467763}}</ref>

''Star Wars: Lords of the Sith'' (2015) was one of the first canon spin-off novels to be released in the Disney canon begun in 2014.<ref name="SW Adult" /> In it, Vader and Palpatine find themselves hunted by revolutionaries on the Twi'lek home planet Ryloth.<ref name="NYDN">{{cite web |first=Sean |last=Keane |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/pageviews/review-star-wars-lords-sith-blog-entry-1.2201665 |title=REVIEW: ''Star Wars: Lords of the Sith'' throws Darth Vader and the Emperor onto the battlefield |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York City |publisher=[[Company:Tribune Publishing|Tribune Publishing]] |date=April 28, 2015 |access-date=May 27, 2016 |archive-date=August 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808160504/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/pageviews/review-star-wars-lords-sith-blog-entry-1.2201665 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="IGN">{{cite web |first=Eric |last=Goldman |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/05/09/star-wars-lords-of-the-sith-review |title=''Star Wars: Lords of the Sith'' Review |website=IGN |publisher=[[Company:J2 Global|j2 Global]] |location=San Francisco, California |date=May 9, 2015 |access-date=May 27, 2016 |archive-date=June 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606044616/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/05/09/star-wars-lords-of-the-sith-review |url-status=live }}</ref> In ''Thrawn'' (2017), the titular character warns Palpatine of "threats lurking in the Unknown Regions." Chuck Wendig's ''Aftermath'' book trilogy reveals that, prior to his death, Palpatine enacted a plan for the remnants of the Empire, intended to be led by his adoptive son Gallius Rax, to retreat to the Unknown Regions, where they formed into the First Order.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ratcliffe |first=Amy |title=The Possibilities of the Unknown Regions in STAR WARS |url=https://nerdist.com/article/star-wars-unknown-regions/ |website=Nerdist |access-date=April 26, 2019 |date=June 2, 2017 |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426073347/https://nerdist.com/article/star-wars-unknown-regions/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The dark side was thought to be concentrated in this region, where one Sith cultist believed that Palpatine would be found alive.<ref>{{cite web |first=Stephen M. |last=Colbert |title=Star Wars 9 Theory: Snoke Was Actually Palpatine All Along |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-9-snoke-palpatine-true-identity/ |website=Screen Rant |publisher=Valnet, Inc. |location=Montreal, Ontario, Canada |access-date=April 26, 2019 |date=April 25, 2019 |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426073352/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-9-snoke-palpatine-true-identity/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The upcoming illustrated book ''Star Wars: The Secrets of the Sith'' is told from Palpatine's perspective.<ref name="SOTS">{{Cite web|last=Brooks|first=Dan|date=July 1, 2021|title=Unlimited Power! How Star Wars: The Secrets of the Sith Will Take Fans to the Dark Side|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/unlimited-power-how-star-wars-the-secrets-of-the-sith-will-take-fans-to-the-dark-side|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2021|website=StarWars.com|language=en-US|archive-date=July 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701200113/https://www.starwars.com/news/unlimited-power-how-star-wars-the-secrets-of-the-sith-will-take-fans-to-the-dark-side}}</ref>

Palpatine appears frequently in the comic book series ''Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith'' (2017–2018), written by Kieron Gillen and Charles Soule. It is suggested at the end of the series that Palpatine manipulated the Force to impregnate Vader's mother Shmi Skywalker, making him, in essence, Vader's father—although this is left somewhat ambiguous.<ref name=slash>{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/darth-vaders-father-revealed/|title=Darth Vader's Father Revealed in Star Wars Comic?|last=Young|first=Bryan|date=December 28, 2018|website=/Film|access-date=December 30, 2018|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108000800/https://www.slashfilm.com/darth-vaders-father-revealed/|url-status=live}}</ref> This builds on the plot point of Anakin's [[Social:Miraculous births|virgin birth]] introduced in ''The Phantom Menace'', and the claim that a Sith lord "could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create life," as Palpatine tells Anakin in ''Revenge of the Sith''.{{efn|name=Plagueis}} This would seem to have [[Social:Incest|incest]]uous implications for Rey and Ben Solo at the end of ''The Rise of Skywalker'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Gramuglia |first=Anthony |title=Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Might Have More Accidental Incest |url=https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-accidental-incest/ |website=CBR |publisher=Valnet, Inc. |location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada |access-date=December 26, 2019 |date=December 25, 2019 |archive-date=December 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225212928/https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-accidental-incest/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|According to the film's novelization, their kiss was one of "gratitude, acknowledgement of their connection, celebration that they'd found each other".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tassi |first1=Paul |title=No, The 'Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker' Novel Didn't Kill The Kylo-Rey Romance |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2020/03/05/no-the-star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-novel-didnt-kill-the-kylo-rey-romance/ |website={{wipe|Forbes}} |location=New York City |access-date=18 May 2020 |date=March 5, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704232354/https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2020/03/05/no-the-star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-novel-didnt-kill-the-kylo-rey-romance/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}} but Soule says that "The Dark Side is not a reliable narrator," and a Lucasfilm story group member who collaborated on the comic confirmed that a direct connection between Palpatine and Vader was not their intent.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lovett |first=Jamie |title=Star Wars Story Group Member Debunks Palpatine and Anakin Theory |url=https://comicbook.com/starwars/2019/12/24/star-wars-darth-vader-emperor-palpatine-father-darth-plagueis/ |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=December 25, 2019 |date=December 24, 2019 |archive-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224184128/https://comicbook.com/starwars/2019/12/24/star-wars-darth-vader-emperor-palpatine-father-darth-plagueis/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The character also appears in the final chapter of the comic book ''Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren'' (2020), which illustrates Palpatine's manipulation of the young Ben Solo into becoming Kylo Ren.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/starwars/2020/03/11/star-wars-rise-kylo-ren-4-ben-solo-palpatine-influence-snoke-connections/ |title=''Star Wars'' Reveals How Palpatine Turned Ben Solo into Kylo Ren |website=Comicbook.com |date=March 11, 2020 |access-date=March 21, 2020 |first=Kofi |last=Outlaw |archive-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321101827/https://comicbook.com/starwars/2020/03/11/star-wars-rise-kylo-ren-4-ben-solo-palpatine-influence-snoke-connections/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Video games ====
''[[Software:Star Wars Battlefront II (2017 video game)|Star Wars Battlefront II]]'' adds a canonical tale spanning the destruction of the second [[Unsolved:Death Star|Death Star]] through the events of ''The Force Awakens''. The story takes an Imperial perspective, following an elite squadron known as Inferno Squad, led by protagonist Iden Versio, as they help execute ''Operation: Cinder'' following the Emperor's death. ''Operation: Cinder'' was carried out by the Galactic Empire as a means of devastating several Imperial planets a few weeks after the Battle of Endor. The operation was part of the "Contingency", a plan devised by Emperor Palpatine to ensure that the Empire and its enemies would not outlive him should he perish. The plan was put into action following the Emperor's death during the Battle of Endor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-palpatine-plan-after-death/ |title=''Star Wars'': Palpatine's Plan For After His Death Revealed |website=Screen Rant |publisher=Valnet Inc. |location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada |date=June 23, 2019 |access-date=January 18, 2020 |first=Thomas |last=Bacon |archive-date=December 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222075643/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-palpatine-plan-after-death/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Palpatine's threat of revenge referenced in the opening crawl of ''The Rise of Skywalker'' was included in the finale of the ''[[Software:Fortnite Battle Royale|Fortnite: Battle Royale]] X Star Wars'' event.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-emperor-palpatine-message-fortnite/ |title=Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'' Explains Missing Plot Point... In ''Fortnite |website=Screenrant |publisher=Valnet Inc. |date=December 24, 2019 |access-date=February 19, 2020 |first=Thomas |last=Bacon |archive-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219083929/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-emperor-palpatine-message-fortnite/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The character has appeared in every Lego Star Wars video game to date, including ''[[Software:Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga|Lego Star Wars]].''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/opening-night-live-lego-star-wars-the-skywalker-saga-trailer |title=Opening Night Live: 20 Details We Love From the New LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Trailer |website=StarWars.com |date=August 27, 2020 |access-date=August 29, 2020 |archive-date=August 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827213814/https://www.starwars.com/news/opening-night-live-lego-star-wars-the-skywalker-saga-trailer |url-status=live }}</ref>

===''Legends''===
In April 2014, Lucasfilm rebranded most of the licensed ''Star Wars'' novels and comics produced since the originating 1977 film ''Star Wars'' as ''Star Wars Legends'' and declared them non-canon to the franchise.<ref name="THR Legends">{{cite magazine |first=Graeme |last=McMilian |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lucasfilm-unveils-new-plans-star-698973 |title=Lucasfilm Unveils New Plans for ''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=Valence Media |location=Los Angeles, California |date=April 25, 2014 |access-date=May 26, 2016 |archive-date=August 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830203115/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lucasfilm-unveils-new-plans-star-698973 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SW Legends">{{cite web |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/the-legendary-star-wars-expanded-universe-turns-a-new-page |title=The Legendary ''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe Turns a New Page |publisher=StarWars.com |date=April 25, 2014 |access-date=May 26, 2016 |archive-date=September 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910044317/http://www.starwars.com/news/the-legendary-star-wars-expanded-universe-turns-a-new-page |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SW Adult">{{cite web |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/disney-publishing-worldwide-and-random-house-announce-relaunch-of-star-wars-adult-fiction-line |title=Disney and Random House announce relaunch of ''Star Wars'' Adult Fiction line |publisher=StarWars.com |date=April 25, 2014 |access-date=May 26, 2016 |archive-date=May 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514073722/http://www.starwars.com/news/disney-publishing-worldwide-and-random-house-announce-relaunch-of-star-wars-adult-fiction-line |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Star Wars Legends'' literature elaborates on Palpatine's role in ''Star Wars'' fiction outside of the films.

====Television====
<!-- ATTENTION! PLEASE READ BEFORE EDITING! Please help keep this section brief. Every detail about the plot of Star Wars or Palpatine's life does not need to appear here. -->
Palpatine/Darth Sidious is a central character in Genndy Tartakovsky's ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' micro-series, which is set between ''Attack of the Clones'' and ''Revenge of the Sith''. The character's likeness in the series is voiced by Nick Jameson. In the first chapter, Palpatine is informed by Obi-Wan Kenobi (voiced by James Arnold Taylor) that the Jedi have discovered that the InterGalactic Banking Clan has established battle droid factories on the planet Muunilinst. Palpatine agrees to send a strike force that includes Anakin Skywalker (voiced by Mat Lucas) and suggests that Anakin be given "special command" of Obi-Wan's fighters. Yoda and Obi-Wan initially speak against the idea but reluctantly concede.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Chapter 1|series=Star Wars: Clone Wars|series-link=Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003 TV series)|network=Cartoon Network|airdate= November 7, 2003|season=1|number=1}}</ref> In the seventh chapter, a holographic image of Sidious appears shortly after Dooku trains Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress (voiced by Grey DeLisle). Sidious orders Ventress to track down and kill Anakin. He remarks to Dooku that Ventress is certain to be defeated, but that the point of her mission is to test Anakin.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Chapter 7|series=Star Wars: Clone Wars|series-link=Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003 TV series)|network=Cartoon Network|airdate= November 17, 2003|season=1|number=7}}</ref> In the final chapters, a hologram of Sidious again appears and orders General Grievous to begin an assault on the galactic capital.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Chapter 22|series=Star Wars: Clone Wars|series-link=Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003 TV series)|network=Cartoon Network|airdate=March 22, 2003|season=3|number=2}}</ref> Later, the Separatist invasion of Coruscant begins and Palpatine watches from his apartment in the 500 Republica. Grievous breaks through the Chancellor's window and attempts to kidnap him,<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Chapter 23|series=Star Wars: Clone Wars|series-link=Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003 TV series)|network=Cartoon Network|airdate= March 23, 2005|season=3|number=3}}</ref> leading to a long chase while Palpatine is protected by Jedi Shaak Ti (voiced by Tasia Valenza), Roron Corobb and Foul Moudama. After Grievous defeats the Jedi, Palpatine is taken on board the ''Invisible Hand'', setting the stage for ''Revenge of the Sith''.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Chapter 25|series=Star Wars: Clone Wars|series-link=Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003 TV series)|network=Cartoon Network|airdate= March 25, 2005|season=3|number=5}}</ref>

====Books and comics====
<!-- ATTENTION! PLEASE READ BEFORE EDITING! Please help keep this section brief. Every detail about the plot of Star Wars or Palpatine's life does not need to appear here. -->
Palpatine made his first major appearance in ''Star Wars''-related comic books in 1991 and 1992, with the ''Dark Empire'' series written by Tom Veitch and illustrated by Cam Kennedy. In the series (set six years after ''Return of the Jedi''), Palpatine is resurrected as the Emperor Reborn, or "Palpatine the Undying". His spirit returns from the netherworld of the Force with the aid of Sith ghosts on Korriban and possesses the body of Jeng Droga, one of Palpatine's elite spies and assassins known as the Emperor's Hands. Droga flees to a secret Imperial base on the planet Byss, where the Emperor's advisor Sate Pestage [[Unsolved:Exorcism|exorcises]] Palpatine's spirit and channels it into one of many [[Biology:Cloning|clones]] created by Palpatine before his death. Palpatine attempts to resume control of the galaxy, but Luke Skywalker, now a senior Jedi Knight, sabotages his plans. Luke destroys most of Palpatine's cloning tanks but is only able to defeat the Emperor with help from Leia Organa Solo, who has received rudimentary Jedi training from Luke. The two repel a Force storm Palpatine had created and turn it back onto him, once again destroying his physical form.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Tom Veitch|title=Dark Empire|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|location=Milwaukie, Oregon|date=1993}}</ref>

Palpatine's ultimate fate is further chronicled in the ''Dark Empire II'' and ''Empire's End'' series of comics. The ''Dark Empire II'' series, published from 1994 to 1995, details how the Emperor is once again reborn on Byss into a clone body. Palpatine tries to rebuild the Empire as the Rebel Alliance grows weak.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Tom Veitch|title=Dark Empire II|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|location=Milwaukie, Oregon|date=1995}}</ref> In ''Empire's End'' (1995), a traitorous Imperial guard bribes Palpatine's cloning supervisor to tamper with the Emperor's stored [[Biology:DNA|DNA]] samples. This causes the clones to deteriorate at a rapid rate. Palpatine tries to possess the body of Anakin Solo, the infant son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, before the clone body dies, but is thwarted once again by Luke Skywalker. Palpatine is killed by a blaster shot fired by Han, but his spirit is captured by the mortally wounded Jedi Empatojayos Brand. When Brand dies, he takes Palpatine's spirit with him into the netherworld of the Force, destroying the Sith Lord once and for all.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Tom Veitch|title=Empire's End|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|location=Milwaukie, Oregon|date=1997}}</ref>

Novels and comics published before 1999 focus on Palpatine's role as Galactic Emperor. ''Shadows of the Empire'' (1996) by Steve Perry and ''The Mandalorian Armor'' (1998) by K. W. Jeter—both set between ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi''—show how Palpatine uses crime lords such as Prince Xizor and [[Social:Bounty hunter|bounty hunter]]s like Boba Fett to fight his enemies.<ref>{{cite book|first=Steve|last=Perry|title=Shadows of the Empire|publisher=Bantam Spectra|location=New York City|date=1996|isbn=978-0-553-57413-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=K. W.|last=Jeter|title=The Mandalorian Armor|url=https://archive.org/details/starwarsmandalor00jete|url-access=limited|publisher=Bantam Spectra|location=New York City|date=1998|page=[https://archive.org/details/starwarsmandalor00jete/page/144 144]|isbn=978-0-553-57885-0}}</ref> In the ''Jedi Prince'' series of young-reader novels (1992–1993) by Paul and Hollace Davids, set about a year after ''Return of the Jedi'', a three-eyed [[Biology:Mutant|mutant]] named Triclops is revealed to be Palpatine's illegitimate son;<ref>{{cite book|last1=Davids|first1=Paul|title=Mission from Mount Yoda|title-link=Mission from Mount Yoda|last2=Davids|first2=Hollace|date=1993|publisher=Scholastic Books|isbn=978-0-553-15890-8|location=New York City}}</ref> he had a son named Ken, the titular "Jedi Prince". Barbara Hambly's novel ''Children of the Jedi'' (1995), set eight years after ''Return of the Jedi'', features a woman named Roganda Ismaren who claims that Palpatine fathered her son Irek.<ref>{{cite book|first=Barbara|last=Hambly|title=Children of the Jedi|publisher=Bantam Spectra|location=New York City|date=1996|isbn=978-0-553-57293-3|title-link=Children of the Jedi}}</ref>

After the release of ''The Phantom Menace'', writers were allowed to begin exploring Palpatine's backstory as a politician and Sith lord. The comic "Marked" by Rob Williams, printed in ''Star Wars Tales 24'' (2005), and Michael Reaves' novel ''Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter'' (2001) explain Darth Sidious' relationship with his apprentice Darth Maul.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Rob Williams|story=Marked|title=Star Wars Tales|volume=24|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|location=Milwaukie, Oregon|date=July 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Michael|last=Reaves|title=Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter|publisher=Del Rey Books|location=New York City|year=2001|isbn=978-0-345-43541-5|title-link=Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter}}</ref> ''Cloak of Deception'' (2001) by James Luceno follows Reaves' novel and details how Darth Sidious encourages the Trade Federation to build an army of battle droids in preparation for the invasion of Naboo. ''Cloak of Deception'' also focuses on Palpatine's early political career, revealing how he becomes a confidant of Chancellor Finis Valorum and acquainted with Padmé Amidala, newly elected queen of Naboo.<ref>{{cite book|first=James|last=Luceno|author-link=James Luceno|title=Cloak of Deception|publisher=Del Rey Books|location=New York City|date=2001|isbn=978-0-345-44297-0}}</ref> Palpatine's role during the Clone Wars as Chancellor of the Republic and Darth Sidious is portrayed in novels such as Matthew Stover's ''Shatterpoint'' (2003), Steven Barnes' ''The Cestus Deception'' (2004), Sean Stewart's ''Yoda: Dark Rendezvous'' (2004), and Luceno's ''Labyrinth of Evil'' (2005) and ''Darth Plagueis'' (2012).

Following the theatrical release of ''Revenge of the Sith'', ''Star Wars'' literature focused on Palpatine's role after the creation of the Empire. John Ostrander's comic ''Star Wars Republic 78: Loyalties'' (2005) chronicles how, shortly after seizing power, Emperor Palpatine sends Darth Vader to assassinate Sagoro Autem, an Imperial captain who plans to defect from the Empire.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=John Ostrander|story=Loyalties|title=Star Wars: Republic|issue=78|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|location=Milwaukie, Oregon|date=October 2005}}</ref> In Luceno's novel ''Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader'' (2005) (set shortly after ''Revenge of the Sith''), the Emperor sends Darth Vader to the planet Murkhana to discover why clone troopers there refused to carry out Order 66 against their Jedi generals. Palpatine hopes these early missions will teach Vader what it means to be a Sith and crush any remnants of Anakin Skywalker.<ref>{{cite book|first=James|last=Luceno|title=Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader|publisher=Del Rey Books|location=New York City|date=2005|isbn=978-0-345-47733-0|title-link=Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader}}</ref>

James Luceno's 2012 novel ''Darth Plagueis'' depicts Palpatine's early life, prior to the films. The scion of an aristocratic family on Naboo, Palpatine first turns toward the dark side upon meeting the titular Sith lord. Sensing great power in Palpatine, Plageuis takes him on as his Sith apprentice. In the final test of his devotion to the dark side, Palpatine kills his parents and his brother and sister.<ref>{{cite web|first=Thomas|last=Bacon|url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-emperor-palpatine-backstory-return-explained/|title=Emperor Palpatine's Entire Backstory, Timeline, & Manipulations Explained|website=Screen Rant|date=December 25, 2019|access-date=May 26, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806115535/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-rise-skywalker-emperor-palpatine-backstory-return-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Video games ====
In ''[[Software:Star Wars: The Force Unleashed|The Force Unleashed]],'' the Empire has captured the rebel leaders and holds them on the Death Star. Vader's former apprentice Galen Marek/Starkiller battles his way through the station, defeats Vader and faces the Emperor, who tries to goad him into killing Vader so Starkiller can take his place. Starkiller defeats the Emperor, but spares him. The Emperor then unleashes Force lightning at Starkiller's companion Rahm Kota, but Starkiller absorbs it, sacrificing himself to allow the rebels to escape.

In the noncanonical dark side ending Starkiller kills Vader and is congratulated by the Emperor, who commands him to kill Kota. Starkiller instead attacks the Emperor, who foils his attempt and then crushes him and the rebels with a ship. Starkiller later awakens to find his body being grafted with armor to continue serving the Emperor.

In the again noncanocial DLC to ''[[Software:Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II|The Force Unleashed II]]'' the Rebel Alliance gets defeated in the Battle of Endor. The Emperor then subdues Vader with Force lightning while chastising him for resurrecting his failed apprentice as a clone.

==== Characterization ====
According to prologue of Alan Dean Foster's 1976 novelization of the original ''Star Wars'' film,
{{blockquote|Aided and abetted by restless, power-hungry individuals within the government, and the massive organs of commerce, the ambitious Senator Palpatine caused himself to be elected President of the Republic. He promised to reunite the disaffected among the people and to restore the remembered glory of the Republic. Once secure in office he declared himself Emperor, shutting himself away from the populace. Soon he was controlled by the very assistants and boot-lickers he had appointed to high office, and the cries of the people for justice did not reach his ears.<ref name="Lucas1"/>}}

In ''Cloak of Deception'', Luceno writes that Palpatine carefully guards his privacy and "others found his reclusiveness intriguing, as if he led a secret life".<ref name="Luceno124">{{cite book |last=Luceno |first=James |title=Cloak of Deception |title-link=Cloak of Deception |date=2002 |publisher=Del Ray Books |isbn=978-0345442970 |location=New York City |page=124 |author-link=James Luceno}}</ref> Despite this, he has many allies in the government. Luceno writes, "What Palpatine lacked in charisma, he made up for in candor, and it was that directness that had led to his widespread appeal in the senate. ... For in his heart he judged the universe on his own terms, with a clear sense of right and wrong."<ref name="Luceno124" /> In Terry Brooks' novelization of ''The Phantom Menace'', Palpatine claims to embrace democratic principles. He tells Queen Amidala, "I promise, Your Majesty, if I am elected [chancellor of the Republic], I will restore democracy to the Republic. I will put an end to the corruption that has plagued the Senate."<ref>{{cite book |last=Brooks |first=Terry |title=Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace |title-link=Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (novel) |date=1999 |publisher=Del Rey Books |isbn=978-0-345-43411-1 |location=New York City |pages=[https://archive.org/details/phantommenace00broo_0/page/238 238–239] |author-link=Terry Brooks}}</ref> A ''Visual Dictionary'' states that he is a self-proclaimed savior.<ref name="visual">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2005 |title=The Visual Dictionary of Star Wars, Episode III Revenge of the Sith |publisher=Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Inc. |location=London, England |last=Luceno |first=James |author-link=James Luceno |page=100 |isbn=978-0-7566-1128-6}}</ref> According to the ''Star Wars Encyclopedia'', "[Palpatine's] Empire ... is based on tyranny."<ref name="Sansweet224">{{cite encyclopedia |year=1998 |title=Emperor Palpatine |encyclopedia=Star Wars Encyclopedia |publisher=Del Ray Books |location=New York City |url=https://archive.org/details/starwarsencyclop00sans/page/224 |editor-last=Sansweet |editor-first=Stephen J. |page=[https://archive.org/details/starwarsencyclop00sans/page/224 224] |isbn=978-0-345-40227-1}}</ref>

Expanded Universe materials explicitly establish that Palpatine was the apprentice of Darth Plagueis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Darth Sidious |url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/character/darthsidious/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205030541/http://starwars.com/databank/character/darthsidious |archive-date=December 5, 2006 |access-date=August 17, 2006 |website=Star Wars Databank}}</ref> Palpatine is characterized as "the most powerful practitioner of the Sith ways in modern times."<ref name="PalpatineEU">{{cite web |title=Palpatine, Expanded Universe |url=https://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine/?id=eu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201010639/http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine/?id=eu |archive-date=December 1, 2006 |access-date=August 17, 2006 |website=Star Wars Databank}}</ref> Palpatine is so powerful that he is able to mask his true identity from the Jedi for decades. In the novel ''Shatterpoint'', Mace Windu remarks to Yoda, "A shame [Palpatine] can't touch the Force. He might have been a fine Jedi."<ref>{{cite book |last=Stover |first=Matthew |title=Shatterpoint |title-link=Shatterpoint |date=2003 |publisher=Del Rey Books |isbn=978-0-345-45574-1 |location=New York City |page=[https://archive.org/details/shatterpointstar00matt/page/10 10] |}}</ref>

The ''Star Wars'' Databank explains that the Force "granted him inhuman dexterity and speed, agility enough to quickly kill three Jedi Masters" (as depicted in ''Revenge of the Sith'').<ref name="PalpatineDatabank" /> Stover describes the duel between Yoda and Palpatine in his novelization of ''Revenge of the Sith'' thus: "From the shadow of a black wing, a small weapon&nbsp;... slid into a withered hand and spat a flame-colored blade ... When those blades met, it was more than Yoda against Palpatine, more the millennia of Sith against the legions of Jedi; this was the expression of the fundamental conflict of the universe itself. Light against dark. Winner takes all."<ref>{{cite book |last=Stover |first=Matthew |title=Revenge of the Sith |title-link=Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (novel) |date=2005 |publisher=Del Ray Books |isbn=978-0345428844 |location=New York City |page=[https://archive.org/details/revengeofsith00stov/page/424 424] |}}</ref> During the duel, Yoda realizes that Sidious is a superior warrior, and represents a small but powerful Sith Order that had changed and evolved over the years, while the Jedi had not: "He had lost before he started. He had lost before he was born."<ref>Stover, page 426</ref>

According to the Databank and ''New Essential Guide to Characters'', Palpatine possesses great patience and his maneuverings are as a dejarik grandmaster moves pieces on a board.<ref name="negc">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2002 |title=The New Essential Guide to Characters |entry=Emperor Palpatine |publisher=Del Ray Books |location=New York City |isbn=978-0-345-44900-9 |last2=Sutfin |first2=Michael |first1=Daniel |last1=Wallace}}</ref> He is depicted as a diabolical [[Philosophy:Genius|genius]].<ref name="rulebook">{{cite book |last1=Slavicsek |first1=Bill |title=Revised Core Rulebook (Star Wars Roleplaying Game) |last2=Collins |first2=Andy |last3=Wiker |first3=J.D. |last4=Sansweet |first4=Steven J. |date=2002 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |isbn=978-0-7869-2876-7 |location=Renton, Washington}}</ref><ref>[http://www.sideshowtoy.com/behindtheshow/?page_id=1389 Movie, Television and Proprietary Collectible Figures - Sideshow Collectibles, Inc. - Toy, WETA, Lord of the Rings, James Bond, Muppets, Military, Universal Monsters<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122132846/http://www.sideshowtoy.com/behindtheshow/?page_id=1389|date=2008-01-22}}</ref>

Palpatine was not given a first name in any canonical or "''Star Wars'' Legends" sources until 2014, when the character's first name—Sheev—was revealed in the novel ''Tarkin'', written by James Luceno.<ref name="Tarkin book">{{cite book |last=Luceno |first=James |title=Tarkin |date=2014 |publisher=Del Rey Books |isbn=9780345511522 |location=New York City |page=93 |author-link=James Luceno}}</ref> The Lucasfilm Story Group approached Del Rey Books and asked if they wanted to use the name, which was created by George Lucas, in the ''Tarkin'' novel, to which Del Rey agreed.<ref name="NYCC A New Dawn">{{cite web |date=October 11, 2014 |title=NYCC 2014 Star Wars Books Panel |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiG16jfqxPQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/OiG16jfqxPQ |archive-date=2021-10-30 |access-date=October 17, 2014 |work=The Star Wars Underworld (YouTube page)}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
<!-- ATTENTION! Please keep this section brief. Every mention of Palpatine in popular culture does not need to appear here. -->
With the premiere of ''Return of the Jedi'' and the prequel films and the accompanying merchandising campaign, Palpatine became an icon in American [[Social:Popular culture|popular culture]]. Kenner/[[Company:Hasbro|Hasbro]] produced and marketed a series of action figures of the character from 1983 to 2005.<ref>{{cite book|first=Geoffrey T.|last=Carlton|title=Star Wars Super Collector's Wish Book: Identification & Values|publisher=Collector Books|location=Paducah, Kentucky|date=2003|isbn=978-1-57432-334-4}}</ref> According to John Shelton Lawrence and Robert Jewett, "These action figures allow children ('4 & up') to handle the symbols of the Force."<ref name="American Superhero">{{cite book|first1=John|last1=Shelton Lawrence|first2=Robert|last2=Jewett|title=The Myth of the American Superhero|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan|date=2002|page=[https://archive.org/details/mythofamericansu00lawr_0/page/266 266]|isbn=978-0-8028-4911-3|url=https://archive.org/details/mythofamericansu00lawr_0/page/266}}</ref>

[[File:SWCA - The Emperor and his Red Guard (16582682063).jpg|thumb|left|A ''Star Wars'' fan cosplaying as Emperor Palpatine (seated) at a ''Star Wars Celebration'' event in 2015]]

Academics have debated the relationship of Palpatine to modern culture. Religion scholars Ross Shepard Kraemer, William Cassidy, and Susan Schwartz compare Palpatine and ''Star Wars'' heroes to the [[Religion:Theology|theological]] concept of [[Astronomy:Dualistic cosmology#Moral dualism|dualism]]. They insist, "One can certainly picture the evil emperor in ''Star Wars'' as [[Biography:Satan|Satan]], complete with his infernal powers, leading his faceless minions such as his red-robed Imperial Guards."<ref>{{cite book|first1=Ross|last1=Shepard Kraemer|first2=William|last2=Cassidy|first3=Susan|last3=Schwartz|title=Religions of Star Trek|publisher=[[Organization:Westview Press|Westview Press]]|location=Boulder, Colorado|date=2003|page=69|isbn=978-0-8133-4115-6}}</ref> Lawrence and Jewett argue that Vader killing Palpatine in ''Return of the Jedi'' represented "the permanent subduing of evil".<ref name="American Superhero"/> However, according to director J. J. Abrams, Palpatine's return in ''The Rise of Skywalker'' represented the idea that evil can return as a result of complacency.<ref name="Palpatine's Legacy">{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/starwars/news/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-jj-abrams-explains-twist-emperor-palpatine-legacy-lineage-rey-palpatine/ |title=''Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'' Director J.J. Abrams Explains Twist Behind Emperor Palpatine's Legacy |website=Comicbook.com |date=December 21, 2019 |access-date=September 18, 2020 |first=Cameron |last=Bonomolo |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410200845/https://comicbook.com/starwars/news/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-jj-abrams-explains-twist-emperor-palpatine-legacy-lineage-rey-palpatine/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He said, "I think the idea that if we are not careful, the evil — the ultimate evil — will rise again."<ref name="Palpatine's Legacy"/>

Since ''Return of the Jedi'' and the prequel films, Palpatine's name has been invoked as a caricature in politics. A ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' editorial noted that anti-[[Social:Pork barrel|pork]] bloggers were caricaturing West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd as "the Emperor Palpatine of pork", with Senator Ted Stevens of [[Earth:Alaska|Alaska]] having "clear aspirations to be his Darth Vader." The charge followed a report that linked a secret hold on the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to the two senators.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/opinion/283392_secreted.html|title=Open Government: Pork protection|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|location=Seattle, Washington|date=September 1, 2006|access-date=September 5, 2006}}</ref> Politicians have made comparisons as well. In 2005, Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey compared Republican Majority Leader [[Biography:Bill Frist|Bill Frist]] of {{wipe|Tennessee}} to Palpatine in a speech on the Senate floor, complete with a visual aid.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alec|last=Russell|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1490425/Star-Wars-jibe-in-US-Senate-battle-of-the-filibuster.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1490425/Star-Wars-jibe-in-US-Senate-battle-of-the-filibuster.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Star Wars jibe in US Senate battle of the filibuster|newspaper={{wipe|The Guardian}}|location=London, England|date=20 May 2005|access-date=4 May 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

A Fox News editorial stated "no cultural icon can exist without someone trying to stuff it into a political ideology. The ''Star Wars'' saga, the greatest [[Social:Popular culture|pop culture icon]] of the last three decades, is no exception... Palpatine's dissolution of the Senate in favor of imperial rule has been compared to Julius Caesar's marginalization of the Roman Senate, Hitler's power-grabs as chancellor on his way to becoming a dictator, Franklin D. Roosevelt's failed court-packing scheme and the creation of a perceived Imperial Presidency in the United States."<ref>{{cite news|first=Thomas A.|last=Firey|title=Star Wars Saga Reflects Political Ideals|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,157229,00.html|publisher=Fox News Channel|location=New York City|date=May 22, 2005|access-date=August 17, 2006|archive-date=May 5, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505171623/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,157229,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===On the Internet===
In the mid-late 2010s, the character became the subject of various [[Social:Internet meme|internet meme]]s, emphasizing certain lines of dialogue the character spoke in ''Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/darth-plagueis-palpatine-senate-meme/|title=Suddenly, Star Wars' Chancellor Palpatine has conquered the entire meme landscape|last=Hathaway|first=Jay|date=January 27, 2017|work=Daily Dot|access-date=April 14, 2019|archive-date=December 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213230639/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/darth-plagueis-palpatine-senate-meme/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/the-reddit-group-dedicated-to-making-memes-about-the-star-wars-prequels|title=The Reddit Group Dedicated to Making Memes About the 'Star Wars' Prequels|last=McDermott|first=John|work=Mel Magazine|date=February 13, 2018|access-date=April 14, 2019|archive-date=April 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413143004/https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/the-reddit-group-dedicated-to-making-memes-about-the-star-wars-prequels|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/mg49gx/reddit-is-engaged-in-a-highly-entertaining-star-wars-meme-war|title=Reddit Is Engaged in a Highly Entertaining 'Star Wars' Meme War|last=Koebler|first=Jason|date=March 14, 2017|work=Motherboard (website)|access-date=April 14, 2019|archive-date=April 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413143003/https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/mg49gx/reddit-is-engaged-in-a-highly-entertaining-star-wars-meme-war|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Relationships==
=== Apprentices ===
==== Canon ====
* [[Social:Darth Maul|Darth Maul]]
* Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus
* Wilhuff Tarkin (Protégé)
* Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
* Gallius Rax (Protégé)
* Inquisitorius (Jedi hunters)
* Snoke (puppet)
* Kylo Ren (secretly)

====''Legends''====
* [[Social:Darth Maul|Darth Maul]]
* A Nikto
* Vergere
* Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus
* Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
* Garth Ezzar
* Ferus Olin
* Mara Jade
* Cronal
* Ennix Devia (Assassin)
* Lumiya
* Luke Skywalker (briefly)
* Sedriss QL

===Family tree===
{{chart top|''Legends'' Palpatine family tree}}
{{Tree chart/start|style=font: 100% sans-serif;|align=center}}
{{Tree chart|PGG||||||||||3GENS|||PGG=Great-grandfather|3GENS=3 Generations}}
{{Tree chart||!||||||||||||!|||}}
{{Tree chart|GEN||||||||||VOL|||GEN=1 Generation|VOL=Volpau}}
{{Tree chart||!|||||||||||||||}}
{{Tree chart|COS|y|PALPM|||||||||||COS=Cosinga Palpatine|PALPM=Unnamed Mother}}
{{Tree chart||,|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|.|||||||}}
{{Tree chart|PAL|y|NIO||PSIBS||||2GENS|PAL=Darth Sidious<br /><small>Palpatine</small>|NIO=Sly Moore|PSIBS=Siblings|2GENS=2 Generations}}
{{Tree chart||||!||||||||||||!|}}
{{Tree chart|||TRI|y|KENDA||||||EDE|TRI=Triclops Palpatine<br /><small>(renounced){{refn|group=n|name=Triclops}}</small>|KENDA=Kendalina|EDE=Ederlathh Pallopides}}
{{Tree chart||||||!|||||||||||}}
{{Tree chart|||||KEN|||||||||||KEN=Ken Palpatine}}
{{Tree chart/end}}
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|'''Notes:'''
{{reflist|group=n|refs={{refn|group=n|name= Triclops|Palpatine mistreated Triclops by deeming him a failure and had him put in prison.}}}}
{{chart bottom}}

==References==
'''Footnotes'''{{notelist}}'''Citations'''
{{Reflist}}

'''Works cited'''
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book | title = The Secret History of Star Wars | last = Kaminski | first = Michael | year = 2008 | orig-year = 2007 | publisher = Legacy Books Press | isbn = 978-0-9784652-3-0 }}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* Anderson, Kevin J., and Daniel Wallace. ''The Essential Chronology''. New York: Del Rey, 2000. {{ISBN|0-345-43439-0}}.
* Bortolin, Matthew. ''The Dharma of Star Wars''. Somerville, Mass.: Wisdom Publications, 2005. {{ISBN|0-86171-497-0}}.
* Feeney, Mark. ''Nixon at the Movies: A Book about Belief''. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004. {{ISBN|0-226-23968-3}}.
* Hanson, Michael J., and Max S. Kay. ''Star Wars: The New Myth''. Philadelphia: Xlibris, 2002. {{ISBN|1-4010-3989-8}}.
* Horne, Michael Allen. ''Dark Empire Sourcebook''. Honesdale, Penn.: West End Games, 1993. {{ISBN|0-87431-194-2}}.
* Jensen, Hans, and Richard Chasemore. ''Star Wars: Complete Locations''. New York: DK Publishing, 2005. {{ISBN|0-7566-1419-8}}.
* Luceno, James. ''Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary''. New York: DK Publishing, 2005. {{ISBN|0-7566-1128-8}}.
* Lyden, John. "The Apocalyptic Cosmology of ''Star Wars''." ''Journal of Religion and Film'' 4 (No. 1, April 2000): [https://web.archive.org/web/20070721074055/http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/LydenStWars.htm online].
* Peña, Abel G. "Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties." ''Star Wars Insider'' 88 (June 2006).
* Reynolds, David West. ''Episode I: The Visual Dictionary'' New York: DK Publishing, 1999. {{ISBN|0-7894-4701-0}}.
* Reynolds, David West. ''Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary''. New York: DK Publishing, 2002. {{ISBN|0-7894-8588-5}}.
* Smith, Jeffrey A. "Hollywood Theology: The Commodification of Religion in Twentieth-Century Films." ''Religion and American Culture'' 11 (No. 2, Summer 2001): pp.&nbsp;191–231.
* Velasco, Raymond L. ''A Guide to the Star Wars Universe''. New York: Del Rey, 1984. {{ISBN|0-345-31920-6}}.
* Wallace, Daniel. ''The New Essential Guide to Characters''. New York: Del Rey, 2002. {{ISBN|0-345-44900-2}}.
* Wallace, Daniel, and Kevin J. Anderson. ''The New Essential Chronology''. New York: Del Rey, 2005. {{ISBN|0-345-44901-0}}.

==External links==
* {{Wookieepedia|Darth Sidious}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170929004027/http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0000024/ Emperor Palpatine] on [[Social:IMDb|IMDb]]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Palpatine}}
[[Category:Internet memes]]

{{Sourceattribution|Palpatine|1}}