Identity of Sidious Reveaeled?

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 2004-08-19 04:46pm

Then there's the EU thing about Vader and Palpatine having dozens of "Dark Side" (or at least force sensitive) minions, even if they weren't officially called "Sith."

So, heh, who knows...

Mange · Post by **Mange** » 2004-08-19 05:00pm

Kurgan wrote:That's what Supershadow basically says on his website, but there's a sizable consensus that he's (to put it plainly) "full of it."

He may have somebody claiming to be an insider feeding him info about Episode III, but it could be misinformation (or SS himself could be part of misinformation) or it could be a simple case of wishfulthinking/attention seeking that is so common with big movie hype.

So, I wouldn't put too much stock in the idea. Personally I doubt we'll see any Kaiburr Crystal stuff, as Lucas seems to have abandoned that idea from the early script drafts of Star Wars. The EU establishes a completely different history for the Kaiburr crystal which conflicts with any notion that Palpatine might be using/have it anyway. Not that creating conflicts with the EU hasn't happened before with Lucas's new films, but anyway, so you see the problems with that theory...

Was the identity of Sidious ever in doubt? Pablo has already said that Sidious is a human and not a clone. One thing I thought was good for the new fans of the saga, is that Lucas wisely chose not to reveal the actor playing Sidious in the end credits.

About SuperShadow. You know he has has gone from saying that he's a close friend to George Lucas with inside information (IIRC he wrote something in the effect of that he couldn't be touched by the Imperial Storm Troopers

) to have a disclaimer on his site saying that he has no association (who'd thought something else?) with Lucasfilm. I had a good time reading his "spoilers" about Episode II.

Now I'm off to bed, good night.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 2004-08-19 08:02pm

I didn't see TPM on opening night (whoa!), 'cause I was on a backpacking trip at the time (boring trivia: same thing happened 3 years later with AOTC, although I caught a showing on our day off between weeks of hiking at a local theater in town). I saw it when I came back about a week later. I had avoided (most) spoilers up to that point, other than watching the official trailer(s).

When I was watching it for the first time and they mentioned the name "Senator PALPATINE" I immediately thought "ah ha, the Emperor."

I saw the hologram with the familiar hood, voice, etc and thought "It's the Emperor!"

I imagine that was the reaction Lucas was shooting for. What else could it be?

So I went on the internet the next day (after getting home) and sure enough I saw people posting on forums asking "Is Sideous a clone?" "Is Palpatine the same person as Sideous or not?" etc.

I guess some of us are jaded and confused due to Lucas and his "from a certain point of view" stuff with Luke's father/sister. I don't know how else to explain it...

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-08-19 08:06pm

Well, all the official literature (books about Ep1 and stuff) also gave the impression that Sidious and Palpatine were different people. I believe I looked at the Episode 1 scrapbook and it reinforced that impression with the descriptions of the seperate people.

However, that final scene in Ep2 made me SURE it was Palpatine, or at least the same actor. Just look at that chin and voice.

It could still be a clone, or just a guy with a similar voice, though. It'd be quite a twist, and surprising.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 2004-08-20 06:32am

Interesting point, though I concede I haven't gone over all the Official Episode I related literature. The New Essential Guide to Characters did have two entries, one for each character and they tried to change the stats between them slightly to give the impression that they might not the same guy or something (basically question marks for Sideous).

Still, the same book put in a blatant error about the Jedi Knight series (confusing Sariss/Tavion), so I wasn't too shocked.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2004-08-21 04:27pm

Much of the material produced between ROTJ and TPM like the WEG RPG, EU novels and so on constantly talked Emperor Palpatine. Some just gave the name, others gave details that Palpatine was an 'unassuming senator' who seemed not to stand out in any way that many factions in the Senate thought they could control.

While some people here seem to have issues with the EU, and I'll admit certain elements are perfect (the Bounty Hunter trilogy being prime examples), it would seem a bit lame if this was changed.

Mange · Post by **Mange** » 2004-08-21 05:03pm

Well, don't forget that the first mentioning of Emperor Palpatine was made in the 1976 Star Wars novelization.