A new Star Wars theory about Palpatine’s origins would rewrite canon in some pretty fascinating ways. Serving as the biggest villain in the entire galaxy far, far away, this secret Sith Lord transformed a galactic Republic that has lasted for millennia and turned it into his very own Empire. Having been so powerful that he was able to overcome death itself, a new theory suggests a major twist in the origins of Palpatine in the Star Wars canon.

Thanks to Star Wars’ new Acolyte series, greater focus has been placed on Palpatine’s master Darth Plagueis, who had the alleged power to create life via Force manipulation. As such, this has generated an exciting theory about Palpatine himself and the reasons why he was seemingly destined to become one of the most powerful Sith Lords in the entire Star Wars timeline. To that end, here’s how a compelling theory about Palpatine’s origins could rewrite Sith history itself, as well as having fascinating ramifications for both Anakin and Rey Skywalker.

The Sith Are Seeking A Power To Destroy The Force’s Balance

Looking To Control The Galaxy Themselves

During an interview with Screen Rant, Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland further confirmed that Sith Lords were in a “secret arms race” unbeknownst to the Jedi Order, seeking to claim greater power and control over the Force in an attempt to subvert its natural balance with their own control via the dark side:

“The Sith are looking for the atomic bomb, they’re looking for “What’s the card that we can have over the Jedi? What’s the Force power that the Jedi do not have?” As far as the Sith are concerned, they’re in an arms race, and the Jedi don’t even know that arms race is happening, you know. Because the person, the being, that can get the power that Aniseya started playing with will start the Manhattan Project.”

Headland’s comments about the Sith are directly connected to questions she was asked about the powers of Palpatine’s master Darth Plagueis, whose canonical power to create life by influencing the midi-chlorians has seemingly been shown in The Acolyte. Wielded by Mother Aniseya and the Witches of Brendok, this coven used a Force vergence to create their powerful twin children, Mae and Osha. While it’s not yet known how the Sith like Plagueis are involved, the Dark Lords of the Sith were constantly seeking new power and abilities to use against the Jedi, even while they were believed to have been extinct.

New Star Wars Theory Suggests Palpatine Was Plagueis’ Creation

The Dark Side Made Flesh?

Keeping the Sith’s constant search for new power in mind, a new theory proposes that perhaps Palpatine himself was the one whose birth was influenced by Plagueis’ experiments with midi-chlorian manipulation. This would be instead of Anakin Skywalker as many have theorized over the years. What if, in Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine’s tale about his master isn’t a hint about Anakin’s origins… but his own?

Assuming that this theory is true, this would lend credence to the idea that Palpatine truly was the dark side made flesh. Being an artificial creation and living weapon of the Sith Lords could explain why Palpatine was so powerful, and why he was the one who ultimately fulfilled the crucial Sith Imperative to both control the galaxy and claim revenge against the Jedi. Existing as a secret creation of Plagueis would make Palpatine a human imbalance to the Force, explaining his rise to power as the Force eventually lost balance as he corrupted the Republic into his very own Empire in the Star Wars timeline.

The Chosen One Was Born To Bring Balance To The Force… By Killing Palpatine

Anakin Created By The Force To Rebalance The Scales

If Palpatine was indeed created to serve as the living embodiment of imbalance in the Force, this would further explain the destiny of Anakin Skywalker. It would essentially support the long-held belief that Anakin’s birth as the Chosen One was influenced by the Force itself in response to Plagueis’ manipulations. Anakin was always the Chosen One despite his corruption as Darth Vader, as his destiny was specifically about defeating Palpatine.

That said, Anakin had to defeat and kill Palpatine not out of anger or rage, because that would have likely left him vulnerable to possession by Palpatine’s spirit, which did live on following the destruction of his physical body as seen in Return of the Jedi. He could kill only out of love, while he eventually did out of his desire to save his son Luke. As a result, Anakin’s bringing balance to the Force makes even more sense, especially if Palpatine was more than a typical Sith and was also a powerful dark side manifestation specifically created to generate mass imbalance and galactic chaos (which he certainly did).

The Sith Cheated, Destroying The Balance Of The Force Again

Palpatine’s Resurrection

Of course, Palpatine and the Sith Eternal found a way around the will of the Force. As soon as Palpatine became Emperor (and more than likely even before), the Sith Lord began plans to orchestrate his own immortality, allowing him to retain his power and control in perpetuity. This took the form of Project Necromancer and the Imperial experiments conducted to create sustainable clone bodies his spirit could enter upon the death of his physical body (which could also withstand his great power in the dark side).

While not at full strength physically, Palpatine was eventually brought back and the galaxy soon plunged into darkness again. This took the form of the First Order which was led by his proxy Supreme Leader Snoke and eventually Kylo Ren. To that end, the New Republic was destroyed, as were the attempts to bring back the Jedi Order as they had once existed before Palpatine’s original Empire. Disorder and chaos returned right alongside Palpatine’s resurrection, the ultimate manifestation of imbalance created by the Sith themselves.

Rey Completed Anakin’s Mission, As He Told Her To

Restoring The Balance Once More

Finally, this brings Rey Skywalker into the story as seen in The Rise of Skywalker. Becoming a new means to correct and bring back balance, Rey defeated Palpatine for the final time with Anakin’s spirit having encouraged Rey to restore the balance just as he had done. Nevertheless, Palpatine being more than an average Sith makes a lot of sense considering how much success he had achieved compared to all the Sith that had before him under the line of Darth Bane.

Additionally, Palpatine being an artificial creation of the dark side via Plagueis’ manipulations of the Force would also further support his claims that he was “All the Sith”. He’d have been created to be their ultimate dark side weapon in the Star Wars canon. While obviously just conjecture, it’s certainly a compelling Star Wars theory that’s worth considering (and lots of fun to think about).