Published Jun 30, 2026, 11:58 PM EDT
Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
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Whether you think he should have returned in the sequels or not, Emperor Palpatine is one of the most important characters in all of Star Wars. Across all major eras during the Skywalker Saga, every major conflict can be traced back to Darth Sidious, the mastermind of the Clone Wars who destroyed the Jedi Order and built the Galactic Empire. It's recently been revealed that a Palpatine series was once in development, though I'm confident it would have been set in the wrong time period.
Thanks to new comments from Palpatine actor Ian McDiarmid, it seems as though George Lucas once discussed developing a television series centered on Emperor Palpatine, exploring the Emperor's earliest years consolidating power after the fall of the Republic. While it's an idea with some solid potential, I can think of a much better premise and setting if a Palpatine series were to be made today.
Between so many shows set during the Dark Times, I don't think it's the right setting for a Palpatine series. Instead, I think a Palpatine series would benefit most by going back even further.
Ian McDiarmid Recently Revealed A Palpatine Series Was Once In Development
During a recent appearance, Ian McDiarmid revealed that George Lucas once discussed making a Palpatine-focused television series.
According to the actor, the project would have explored Palpatine's earliest days as Emperor, including the challenges of establishing the Galactic Empire and surviving assassination attempts from those unwilling to accept Imperial rule. It's an intriguing premise that would have shown Sidious navigating a galaxy still adjusting to life after the Clone Wars.
Exactly what project McDiarmid was referring to remains unclear. He may be recalling ideas connected to Lucas's long-canceled Star Wars: Underworld series, which was famously intended to explore the criminal underworld and political landscape during the Empire's rise.
Still, if Lucasfilm decides to revisit the idea, simply returning to the Dark Times feels like covering familiar ground. There are already countless stories showing the Empire's rise, making another series set in that period feel less essential than it once might have.
A Palpatine Series Should Happen (Just Not During The Dark Times)
Custom Image by Kevin ErdmannInstead, I think it would be far more interesting if Lucasfilm went much further back before The Phantom Menace.
In the official Star Wars canon, Palpatine's apprenticeship under Darth Plagueis remains one of the biggest untold stories in Star Wars. Watching a young Sheev Palpatine gradually embrace the dark side, manipulate Naboo politics, and evolve into Darth Sidious would offer an entirely different perspective than anything the franchise has explored before.
It would also finally allow Darth Plagueis to take center stage. Long considered one of the most fascinating Sith Lords in expanded lore, Plagueis recently made his live-action debut in The Acolyte. Despite the show's divisive reception, his brief appearance was widely viewed as one of its most exciting reveals, leaving fans eager to learn more about the legendary Sith Master.
A prequel series could naturally explore their twisted master-apprentice relationship, showing how Plagueis molded Palpatine into the galaxy's greatest Sith while unknowingly training the man who would ultimately murder him. It would also bring one of Revenge of the Sith's most iconic conversations full circle, finally revealing the truth behind "The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise."
More importantly, this era remains almost completely untouched in live action. Rather than revisiting the already crowded Dark Times, Lucasfilm could expand the mythology of the Sith themselves, exploring ancient traditions, political manipulation, and the slow corruption of a future Emperor. If a Palpatine series is ever going to happen, that's the story worth telling.
Movie(s) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
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