Star Wars fans first met Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, who exerted his control over Darth Vader and the rest of the Galactic Empire. In Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, he demonstrated not only his tactical control, but also displayed his abilities with the Dark Side of the Force, shooting lightning at Luke Skywalker amidst combat. Despite the character's death in that film, his presence has loomed large throughout the saga, with theories emerging ahead of Star Wars: The Force Awakens that Palpatine could emerge. While none of those theories panned out, fans have finally gotten a taste of his return with the first teaser for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
The first teaser debuted today at Star Wars Celebration, with the final moments offering audiences hints of Palpatine's sinister laugh. The character might not have actually appeared on screen, but the laugh was immediately recognizable, potentially confirming that the character will actually appear in the film. Additionally, actor Ian McDiarmid even came out on stage after the teaser and demanded that it be played again.
To say fans are excited about this possibility would be an understatement, as they immediately took to social media to share their excitement at all the opportunities. Scroll down to see what fans are saying about Palpatine's possible return in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker!