EPISODE IX: EMPRESS OF EVIL

A shocking vision of alternate destiny and evil, as the head of the Sith powerbase on Exegol, is briefly but memorably revealed to a dark Force powered Rey in a memorable but all too brief moment from The Rise of Skywalker. 

Star Wars: Rey Was Originally Obi-Wan's Daughter

Daisy Ridley enjoys some quality throne time.

EPISODE IX: TO MURDER A SITH LORD!

Newly arrived on the mysterious and doom-laden realm of Exegol, home to the legendary Sith Lords of old, the First Order's new Supreme Leader, Kylo Ren, is a man on a disturbing mission - to slaughter the re-emergent Dark Side force that is Darth Sidious (aka Emperor Palpatine) and prevent his own empire from being usurped, in this effective and memorable beginning to The Rise of Skywalker.

EPISODE IX: A DYAD IN THE FORCE!

No longer enemies but friends in the Force, the unique Jedi Dyad of Rey and Ben Solo hold firm against the evil resurrected Palpatine on Exegol, in this memorable image and moment from The Rise of Skywalker.

EPISODE IX: BACK FROM THE (UN)DEAD!

From his secret lair deeply hidden on the hard-to-reach world of Exegol, the hideous and seemingly more powerful than ever Emperor Palpatine's resurrected, if bodily incapacitated, form presses on with his final plans for dominion or extermination of the galaxy, in The Rise of Skywalker.

https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2492873/star-wars-explained-exactly-how-palpatine-survived-hisreturn-of-the-jedi-fall

EPISODE IX: EMPRESS REY!

Clouded a Jedi's future can be, but Rey's seems particularly dark via her Force vision moments in the dramatic run up to discovering her true identity, and a possible future where she is the Sith Empress. in this great filming moment seen for only briefly in The Rise of Skywalker.

Filming Daisy Ridley on the immense throne, based on an original Ralph McQuarrie design for Revenge of the Jedi.

EPISODE IX: CHARGE OF THE FINN BRIGADE!

More determined than ever to stop the First and Final Orders from getting their fleet beyond the perilous atmosphere of Exegol, Finn and his friend and fellow Stormtrooper deserter Jannah lead an army of Orbaks into battle in this super image and moment from The Rise of Skywalker.

https://www.insider.com/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-space-horses-without-vfx-2020-3

EPISODE IX: SOMETHING WICKED...

The Emperor- back from the dead!

His consciousness prior transferred to a temporarily weak clone body after the events of Return of the Jedi, Emperor Palpatine's designs on eternal control of the galaxy, decades in the making, are about to be unleashed across the galaxy, as Ian McDiarmid makes a welcome and deliciously evil (as ever) return to the Star Wars universe, witnessed in these great behind the scenes images from The Rise of Skywalker.

The facts on the Emperor's 'return'...

On set and rehearsal prior to make-up and filming, and always attracting attention! Note costume designer Michael Kaplan (far left).

In new/old make-up

And gaining a brand new blood red layered costume for his later fully resurrected scenes.

And looking as handsome as ever!

For more background info on the return of Palpatine and the new Sith, check out New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson's hugely enjoyable 'Expanded Edition' adaptation of the film, out now in UK hardback, from Century.

Get it here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rise-Skywalker-Expanded-Star-Wars-ebook/dp/B07YJZRNDG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=rise+of+skywalker+novel&qid=1585075538&sr=8-1

EPISODE IX: IN THE PRESENCE OF PALPATINE!

The legacy of Emperor Palpatine - specifically his mastery of the Sith's unnatural dark arts - continues with his incredible and shocking 'return' from the dead, and the opportunity for one of the saga's finest actors - Ian McDiarmid - to relish every moment of his on-screen alter-ego's nefarious and twisted evil. The saga started with his pulling the strings as 'The Phantom Menace', now Sidious/Palaptine's final bid for power is unleashed with The Rise of Skywalker.

Ian McDiarmid talks IX:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSTfN0UbX9Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R040c-CIVx0

Earlier cuts of The Rise of Skywalker gave more backstory to Palpatine

EPISODE IX: SEAT OF POWER, SEAT OF DESTINY

Rey faces her destiny, and what could also be her final battle, against the returned evil of Emperor Palpatine, preparing for the ultimate dominion of the Sith, in Dan Mumford's final poster art for worldwide IMAX/AMC screenings of The Rise of Skywalker.

https://movieweb.com/the-rise-of-skywalker-emperor-palpatine-backstory/

EPISODE IX: THEIR FINAL CONFRONTATION....

It's had very little release fanfare, but the second of Dan Mumford's great art pieces celebrating The Rise of Skywalker in IMAX/AMC cinemas worldwide has now arrived online, and its another gem, showcasing the against-the-odds rush of the Resistance fighter squadrons against the overwhelming combination of the First and Final Order Imperial forces near Exagol...