Star Wars Rebels has managed to bring back some of the saga’s most beloved actors to reprise their roles in animation form. Forrest Whitaker has returned to voice Saw Gerrera, Billy Dee Williams reprised his role as Lando Calrissian and, of course James Earl Jones returned to voice the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader. Well, if recent rumors are to be believed then another beloved actor is set to return to a galaxy far far away.

Star Wars News Net has reported that Ian McDiarmid is set to reprise his role as Emperor Palpatine in Season 4 of Rebels. Palpatine has been featured in Rebels before, but he was voiced by Darth Maul voice actor Sam Witwer.

Ian McDiarmid has supposedly been doing some voice work at the same place and time that another Star Wars veteran, Warwick Davis, has been recording. Davis is set to play Rukh in the upcoming season 4, so with that in mind it seems extremely plausible that Ian McDiarmid could be voicing the Emperor.

It would make sense for Palpatine to return in the final season of Star Wars Rebels due to it obviously being set during the height of Imperial rule. Perhaps he personally takes an interest in attempting to put a stop to the Ghost crew himself as they have become a rather large thorn in the side of the Empire.

If these rumors are true then Season 4 of Rebels could be the best yet.

About Star Wars Rebels:

A brave and clever ragtag starship crew stands up against the evil Empire as it tightens its grip on the galaxy and hunts down the last of the Jedi Knights.