The upcoming "Star Wars Episode VII" is one of the most anticipated films of 2015. Director J.J. Abrams has maintained utmost secrecy on the film and he has in some cases revealed certain cast members later than others.

This brings up a huge question regarding the movie's new villains. Adam Driver is expected to be an antagonist and the famed Max Von Sydow is also rumored to be playing Darth Plagueis. Missing in the casting news was the return of Ian McDiarmid, who played Emperor Palpatine, AKA Darth Sidious, in the prequels and Episode VI. There were rumors for a while that he might make a long-awaited return. He has not been officially confirmed, but that does not mean that Abrams does not have a big surprise in store.

Narratively, Palpatine is the main villain of the Star Wars franchise through the first six films. He was the man who destroyed the Republic in the prequels and then became the final obstacle toward destroying the Empire in "Return of the Jedi."

Abrams will undoubtedly want to move in a new direction with the franchise and this offers him an ample opportunity to bring in a new villain, but bringing Palpatine back might not be the worst of ideas in terms of continuity.

The first big hurdle to overcome would be the fact that he was killed by Darth Vader in "Return of the Jedi" and was heard of no more. But this should not be any reason to nullify the villain completely. In fact, Palpatine himself offers the clue to immortality.

There is a scene near the middle of "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" in which Palpatine and Anakin Skywalker are seated at the galactic opera house. Suddenly, Palpatine starts to relate the story of Darth Plagueis and even reveals that the Sith Lord learned to create life and immortality.

"Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith so powerful and so wise, he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create... life. He had such a knowledge of the Dark Side, he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying," says Palpatine in this scene.

Up to this point, Anakin has been trying to find a way to save his beloved Padme from the death he has dreamed for her and he asks, "He could actually save people from death?"

To which Palpatine responds that Plagueis "taught his apprentice everything he knew. Then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. Ironic. He could save others from death but not himself."

Palpatine is eventually revealed to be that very apprentice. While he never actually proves to be able to bring back life (though he does save Anakin from certain death when he becomes Vader), this particular story point becomes a major source of ambiguity and opens up a lot of possibilities.

The fact that Plageuis is the rumored villain in the new films only adds to the possibilities that the Emperor himself could make a return. After all, if Plageuis returns after having been killed by his apprentice (assuming this story is true of course), then what stops Palpatine from incurring a similar revival (assuming he does in fact know how to revive himself)? This possibility is only strengthened when one considers that Palpatine was thrown down the shaft inside the Death Star. Did he really die from the fall, or in the explosion? These are, after all, beings with incredible superpowers and Palpatine's ability to survive that event should never be doubted.

That, of course, would be a rather unbelievable story to get fans onboard with, as it could potentially ruin the overall arc of the original six films. Vader's redemption in the sixth film was not only from saving his son Luke, but by shunning his former master and defeating him. In that manner, Vader, who fell to the Dark Side under Palpatine's reign, is actually subverting the cycle of Sith apprentices killing their masters and continuing the perpetuation of the dark side by killing him and thus ending the reign of the Dark Side of the force altogether.

However, if Plagueis is in the new film, wouldn't it be interesting to see the dynamic between the former apprentice and master? Wouldn't it add a new layer to the franchise to see two Sith Lords actually battling for power while also combatting the light side of the force embodied by Luke? It could make for some truly compelling drama.

Do you think that Palpatine would return? Or is it time to move on? Let us know in the comments section below.

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