New Star Wars: Episode IX Leak Teases Palpatine's Return

Disney's security surrounding the production of the upcoming and untitled Star Wars: Episode IX has been so severe that cast members have been threatened with fines larger than their salaries if they spread any information about the shoot. But, proving that a chance of cultural immortality is worth risking capital standing, that hasn't stopped a massive, juicy leak from emerging from the film.

An unnamed—and therefore unverified—source told the ​Express that ​Episode IX will feature the return of Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine in a small but crucial capacity. The official statement reads, "Specifically, Kylo Ren with an ignited lightsaber, presumably his cross-guard lightsaber, cutting through a blast door on some jungle planet and entering what appears to be a vault."

"Eventually Kylo Ren is holding a square object that projects a lifelike projection of Emperor Palpatine. Palpatine’s hand is raised in front of Kylo Ren showing blueprints or plans that could be a new weapon," the alleged leak reads.

Though it's impossible to confirm anything in the statement at this time, the internet has already gone into overdrive to try and put the pieces of the puzzle together.

The ​old fan theory that protagonist Rey is somehow descended from Palpatine has reemerged, as well as new theories about a hypothetical new super-weapon. One thing that fans seem to be in agreement on is that the "vault" in question is probably one of Palpatine's safe houses where he hid caches of Sith artifacts and instructions on how to disable the Empire after his death. Other than that though, not much is clear about the leak.