14 Years Ago, Star Wars Finally Told a Story Fans Had Only Theorized About (And They’ve Failed to Actually Tell More Since)

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A memorable scene from the Star Wars prequels features Chancellor Palpatine recounting the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise to Anakin Skywalker. This story serves a dual purpose in Revenge of the Sith: it shows Palpatine continuing to manipulate Anakin, specifically by exploiting his fear of losing loved ones, and it reveals the origins of Darth Sidious. Though Palpatine never explicitly states it, the story strongly implies he was the apprentice who killed Plagueis. This immediately sparked fan theories about Palpatine’s past, but the complete story wasn’t revealed for several years.

Nearly seven years after the movie Revenge of the Sith came out, Del Rey published Darth Plagueis, a novel by James Luceno, on January 10, 2012. The book tells the story of the powerful Sith Lord Darth Plagueis, focusing on his relationship with Palpatine. A key part of the plot is Palpatine’s betrayal of Plagueis, which adds depth and understanding to a famous scene from Revenge of the Sith.

Darth Plagueis Is Great, but There’s One Problem With It Now

If you enjoyed the Star Wars prequels, or the saga in general, Darth Plagueis is a great book to pick up. It expands on Palpatine’s backstory in ways the films couldn’t, showcasing how a franchise can thrive across different mediums. Author James Luceno crafts a captivating story about ambition and the dangers of power, with a particularly intriguing look at the relationship between a Sith master and their apprentice. The book reveals that the idea for the Galactic Empire didn’t originate with Palpatine; it was actually the ambition of his master, Darth Tenebrous. Plagueis then built upon this vision, subtly influencing galactic events and even laying the groundwork for the clone army, all to serve his own goals.

The relationship between Palpatine and Plagueis is initially designed to mirror Palpatine’s later relationship with Anakin: a master trying to control a young, easily influenced apprentice. We see this early on as Plagueis uses Palpatine to gain influence on Naboo. However, Palpatine is also secretly working to control and eventually replace Plagueis. This dynamic perfectly illustrates the nature of the Sith. Unlike the close, family-like bonds between Jedi Masters and their Padawans, a Sith apprentice is so focused on gaining power that they only see their master as something to overcome.

There are many reasons why Darth Plagueis is a compelling book. It adds layers of mystery to the prequel Star Wars films, especially The Phantom Menace. The story unfolds during the events of that movie, revealing that Plagueis was still alive at the time and that Palpatine secretly took Maul as his apprentice. Palpatine doesn’t eliminate Plagueis until the Battle of Naboo, after deceiving his master with the promise of becoming co-chancellor. These details about Palpatine, Plagueis, and the Sith’s schemes are incredibly valuable. However, Darth Plagueis is no longer considered official Star Wars canon. Following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, it was reclassified as a ‘Legends’ novel.

This leaves a significant story unexplored. We haven’t seen any official stories about Palpatine learning from Plagueis, despite it being a natural area to develop. Lucasfilm removed a previous novel covering this relationship from official continuity, and while they hinted at revisiting the story a couple of years ago, those plans never materialized.

Darth Plagueis Has One Appearance in Disney’s Star Wars Canon

After being referenced for almost 20 years, Darth Plagueis finally appeared on screen in the final episode of Star Wars: The Acolyte. He briefly appears watching The Stranger and Osha from the shadows on the planet Bal’demnic. This long-awaited debut was a significant moment, hinting at future storylines. According to star Manny Jacinto, Plagueis was intended to return in either Season 2 or Season 3 if the show hadn’t been cancelled.

It’s not surprising that The Acolyte was cancelled after only one season, ending any plans showrunner Leslye Headland had for the show’s future. Despite the controversy surrounding it, the cancellation was disappointing. Seeing the High Republic era brought to life on screen was captivating, and the appearances of Plagueis and Yoda in the finale cleverly linked the series to the larger Skywalker Saga. What made The Acolyte unique was its story being set far outside the events of the films, but those connections to familiar characters were still exciting. Many viewers were left wondering where the story would have gone.

It’s unlikely that The Acolyte will return for another season. Disney executive Alan Bergman stated the show was canceled because of its cost, suggesting the studio didn’t think it was a good investment. Lucasfilm now seems to be focusing more on movies, with The Mandalorian & Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter planned for release. Besides the second season of Ahsoka, there aren’t any other live-action Star Wars shows currently being developed. While Disney+ will still get new Star Wars content, like the animated series Maul – Shadow Lord, live-action TV series aren’t a major focus for the studio right now.

Okay, let’s talk about that ending of The Acolyte. That Plagueis tease… it feels like a loose end that might never be tied up. But honestly, Lucasfilm needs to address the story of Palpatine and Plagueis somehow. A full-blown prequel focused on young Palpatine might not be in the cards, but their publishing arm could absolutely deliver. An official, canon account of what happened between those two would be huge! And here’s a thought: wouldn’t it be amazing if they could get James Luceno—the author who originally laid so much of the groundwork for Plagueis—to come back and help? They did that with Timothy Zahn and Thrawn, bringing him back into the fold after he became a fan favorite, and it worked brilliantly. That would be a fantastic way to complete the story of Darth Plagueis and give fans the closure they deserve.

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2026-01-10 21:42