With the absence of official news, the rumor mill for Star Wars Episode VII keeps on spinning. This time, Jedi News is reporting that Ian McDiarmid will be returning to the galaxy far, far away, likely as Emperor Palpatine or as a clone of the character, who was killed in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The Jedi News team said the tip came from an "unnamed source," so take it with a grain of salt until we know more.
Personally, I'm hoping this isn't true. While I'm sure there are interesting stories that can be told with either a resurrected Palpatine or a clone of Palpatine (which has its basis in the Expanded Universe), I would rather the franchise move on to something more original, with a new villain. Besides, if Palpatine was alive, that to me would undercut the sacrifice of Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi. I don't care about the Chosen One prophecy at all, since that was forced into Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace unnecessarily, but that doesn't change the fact that Darth Vader sacrificed himself to save his son by killing the Emperor. Bringing Palpatine back, as great a character he was, fundamentally changes Vader's redemption.
What do you think? Should Palpatine return? Let us know in the comments below!