An article was recently posted at IGN:
http://filmforce.ign.com/starwars/articles/603/603764p2.html?fromint=1
On this page, there's a bit of info from Ian McDiarmid saying how he's a Sith "from way back"
GrimJim wrote:
For those of you that don´t want to search for the stuff:
"One other Star Wars item of interest: actor Ian McDiarmid, who plays Palpatine in both the original trilogy and the prequels, let some interesting details about his character slip in an interview with Sci Fi Wire. He described Chancellor-cum-Emperor Palpatine as being a purely evil and malevolent character.
"I think the Emperor is the incarnation of evil, and he's only really interested in power and manipulation. Nothing else gives him any pleasure. He's a Sith from way back, and they don't have a moral universe. They want to create power for themselves by destroying others. It's very interesting to play a character that is irredeemable. There are even real people that have that kind of motiveless malignancy.
"I think it's terrific for me that the final film is also my character's apotheosis. He really explodes in all his unbridled evil. Hypocrisy goes to one side and you see this creature for what he really is. It's been interesting to play the character in the last two movies on the sidelines, and now he moves into the middle. It's a very satisfying personal climax and a privilege."
A Sith from way back? Perhaps Palpatine is older than we realized."
It raises some questions about Palpatine and how old he really is, and more importantly his origins. Aside from his master Darth Plagueis, being from Naboo, and a vague databank entry on the official site, I can't seem to find much more information on him. Is there anymore info on him out there?
EDIT: Also what he says about the character is cool, you guys might like it.
UPDATE:
The latest homing beacon newsletter answers some questions...
Due to his demanding performance schedule, actor Ian McDiarmid was not able to make the trip to Indianapolis for Celebration III, the Star Wars party of a lifetime. Still, McDiarmid did want to share his insights with the fans in attendance. During the Episode III scoring sessions in London, he sat down for an exclusive interview with starwars.com Hyperspace and spoke candidly and at length about his role as Palpatine throughout the Star Wars saga.
This interview will appear on video during Celebration III and online for members of starwars.com Hyperspace. Here's a sample:
"When we were doing Return of the Jedi there was a rumor that George Lucas had nine films in his head, and he'd clearly just completed three of them," recalls McDiarmid. "Someone said that, 'Oh, I think what he might do next is go back in time, and show how Vader came to be.' It never occurred to me in a million years that I would be involved in that, because I thought, 'oh well, then he'll get a much younger actor.' That would be obvious."
McDiarmid carried on with his stage career after the success of Jedi. His connection to the saga was kept from being overly publicized due to his being obscured under heavy makeup for the role of Emperor Palpatine. Years would pass before Star Wars entered his life again.
"I heard that George was indeed going to make those prequels, and that he was coming to London and he wanted to see me. I had no idea, I suppose, that the Emperor in some form would be in it." After a brief meeting with Lucas (10 minutes in length, McDiarmid recalls) it became clear that Palpatine was not only returning, but that he would be central to the events in this new trilogy.
"I was sort of reeling," McDiarmid says. "Then he explained to me, not in great detail, about the trajectory of the three movies, and my character in relation to that. But he talked about two people. He talked about this perfectly ordinary, rather charming, politician who one day became Emperor. And that story would be seen in films 1 and 2, and in film 3 he would move closer to the center as he got closer to power."
Unlike the face-obscuring role of the Emperor, this time McDiarmid would keep his own features for the role of Palpatine. "This only happened because I was the right age," says McDiarmid. "I was the right age, ironically, for the first prequel when it was made. I wouldn't have been if he'd started with [Episode I]. So I was in the very strange and rather wonderful paradox of playing myself when young at my own age, having played myself previously when 100-and-I-don't-know-what. So that was, of course, extremely interesting and a challenge, and it was wonderful to think that I'd be part of the continuing saga. And of course I went home and refused to believe it. But bit by bit it became a reality."
For the complete interview, catch the 5 p.m. screening on Thursday April 21st at the 500 Ballroom of the Indiana Convention Center during Celebration III. You can also find it online as part of the extensive starwars.com coverage of the event. It will be exclusive to Hyperspace members.
