Something, something, something Dark Side, something something Ian McDiarmid

Since nobody desires to provide tangible evidence that some actor, some where has signed on for Star Wars Episode VII, we are forced to settle for rumors.  And this rumor is a whopper the size of Ziost.  (That's the Sith's original home planet for those of you not in the know.)

"Jedi News" reports that a source close to the film states that actor Ian McDiarmid* will return for the seventh installment, presumably as Emperor Palpatine.  Since the 'ole Emperor took a high dive to the center of the Death Star in Return of the Jedi, I'm guessing that McDiarmid will play a clone of the original Palpatine.  It's important to note that there is a storyline in the Star Wars expanded universe where a clone of Palpatine re-emerges and temporarily converts Luke to the Dark Side.  However, this was only about six years after the events of Jedi if memory serves me, so it might not fit the timeline for Episode VII.  Although at this point there's been little to no indication that Abrams and company will even employ ANY material for the expanded universe. 

I'm kind of torn about this rumor.  On the one hand I loved McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine and am intrigued about his possible return.  On the other hand I really want Episode VII to go in a new direction with a new enemy.  The Sith don't necessarily have to come into play at all.  (Yuuzhan Vong anyone?)

Of course any speculation at this point is moot because we've had no official word from Disney.  The "source" for this rumor could be a meth addicted Uncle who thinks he really is Luke Skywalker for all I know.  We will just have to wait and see.  Honestly though, someone needs to sign on the dotted line.  I don't care if it is Warwick Davis reprising his role as Wicket the Ewok.  Somebody put pen to paper already please!

Star Wars Episode VII releases summer 2015.

*McDiarmid has a great little cameo as a Catholic priest in 1981's Dragonslayer.  If  you haven't seen it you might want to before the second Hobbit movie comes out in December.  It will be a nice baseline for how far dragons on screen have come.