Rumor: Ian McDiarmid To Appear On Star Wars Rebels

05/12/2017 03:38 pm EDT

Star Wars Rebels is shaping up for an explosive final season in the wake of the Phoenix Squadron's climactic confrontations with the Imperial Fleet led by Grand Admiral Thrawn.

After the decimation of the Rebel forces in the Lothal sector, they barely escaped with their lives and will inevitably collide with Thrawn's forces once again. But will Darth Vader be there for another confrontation with former Padawan Ahsoka Tano?

And what about Vader's master Emperor Palpatine? Could he make an on-screen appearance before the show wraps up in its fourth season?

Although the character's voice (by Sam Witwer) was heard in conversation with his Sith Apprentice in a Season 2 episode, we've yet to see the character on screen. But that may now be in the cards as Star Wars News Network reported a new rumor that Ian McDiarmid himself recorded lines for the upcoming slate of episodes.

McDiarmid has yet to voice his character for any of the Star Wars cartoons—actor Ian Abercrombie provided the voice of Chancellor Palpatine in the Clone Wars cartoon.

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But SWNN's report states that McDiarmid was recording in the same location where Warwick Davis provided voice acting for his character Ruhk in the latest season of Star Wars Rebels.

It's far from being confirmed, and given that Maul's voice actor Witwer already provided the voice of the Emperor previously in the series SWNN further speculates that McDiarmid could be providing the voice of Chancellor Palpatine in a flashback.

We'll likely learn more as the final season of Star Wars Rebels approaches its premiere, likely in the fall.

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This animated entry in the "Star Wars" franchise fills the gap between the events of "Episode III" and "Episode IV." Imperial forces occupy a remote planet and are ruling -- and ruining -- its inhabitants' lives with an iron fist. A clever, disparate crew aboard the starship Ghost takes a stand against the Empire, facing new villains and colorful adversaries. The rebels on the Ghost include leader Kanan, ace pilot Hera, feisty heroine Sabine, tough guy Zeb and 14-year-old con artist Ezra.

Star Wars Rebels airs Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD, and follows the adventures of Hera (Vanessa Marshall), Sabine (Tiya Sircar), Zeb (Steve Blum), and the Jedi Kanan (Freddie Prinze, Jr.) and Ezra (Taylor Gray), a small crew that's finding their way in the nascent Rebel Alliance a few years before the events of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.

Executive produced by Simon Kinberg and Dave Filoni, the in-canon series helps to connect the worlds of the films and the previous animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, with guest appearances so far by characters like Lando Calrissian, Ahsoka Tano, Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Leia Organa, Wedge Antilles, and more.

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