Poe Dameron’s line in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, “Somehow, Palpatine returned,” was apparently added in a reshoot. According to Oscar Isaac, who was tasked with delivering this key bit of exposition, he never considered that it might spark fan backlash and become an internet meme.
Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi – Disney+
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Exactly how Palpatine returned is never explained—whether by cloning or essence transfer—and is simply left vague. More than that, the reversal of established Star Wars canon—Palpatine was seemingly killed by Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi—revealed in what many felt was an almost casual way, became symbolic of a franchise searching for direction.
A Line That Took on a Life of Its Own
The actor was being interviewed by Josh Horowitz, who brought up the infamous moment. “Now, don’t get mad at me, but the ‘somehow Palpatine returned’ line,” Horowitz said. “It follows you. It’s on the interweb. It’s out there. Do you remember reading that line and being like, ‘That does a lot?’”
Isaac did not immediately answer, but his response provided revealing context. “Yeah, those were reshoots. We had to do reshoots,” he said. Many fans had long suspected the line was added later to patch over a significant gap in the plot. It suggests that if the filmmakers had considered a clearer explanation, it may have been deemed too convoluted—or simply not fully developed.
After noting that he had already cut his hair, Isaac explained how he views reshoots. “Those are like surgical strikes where you come in and try to make sense of it all while they’re scrambling to get everything done,” he said. “That line was a new addition right at the end.” He added, “There was a lot of movement and flux throughout the whole process.”
Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), Lucasfilm
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His comments point to a production that was evolving in real time, experimenting with competing ideas at different stages. They may also reflect the broader trajectory of the sequel trilogy. After Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi took the series in a different direction, J. J. Abrams returned to steer the final installment. The result raises an enduring question: was there ever a single, cohesive vision guiding the trilogy?
A Moment That Defines the Film
Star Wars remains one of the most influential film franchises of all time, and The Rise of Skywalker ranks among the most expensive movies ever made. With its deep lore and dedicated fan base, every creative decision was bound to face scrutiny. The fact that “Somehow, Palpatine returned” was presented—in a reshoot—as sufficient explanation was almost certain to provoke backlash.
Poe Dameron in The Rise of Skywalker – Disney+
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Objectively, the issue is not that the villain was resurrected to move the story forward—it’s that the return was never meaningfully explained.
In that sense, Isaac’s comments don’t so much rewrite the narrative around the line as they reinforce what audiences already suspected: that The Rise of Skywalker was shaped as much by last-minute decisions as by long-term planning. Reshoots are a normal part of blockbuster filmmaking, but here they appear to have carried unusual weight. What remains is a moment that continues to define the film—not for what it reveals about Palpatine, but for what it suggests about how the story itself came together.
Are you surprised the line was added in a reshoot? Let us know in the comments!
