Sam Witwer Hinted at Ian McDiarmid Return to Star Wars
Actor Sam Witwer suggested Ian McDiarmid may voice Emperor Palpatine in future episodes of Maul: Shadow Lord.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Animation
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Actor Sam Witwer indicated that Ian McDiarmid could reprise his iconic role as Emperor Palpatine for future seasons of the Disney+ animated series Maul: Shadow Lord. Witwer, who voices Maul and currently provides the voice for Palpatine during hallucination sequences, made the comments in a recent interview.
Why it matters
The show, which focuses on Maul seeking revenge against the Emperor, has seen significant critical success. Bringing in McDiarmid could signal a shift toward more direct interactions between the characters as the series moves beyond its initial vision-based storytelling.
The series currently holds a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Witwer performed voice work for Emperor Palpatine during Episode 8 vision sequences under the direction of supervising director Brad Rau.
The players
Sam Witwer
He is an actor and consulting producer who voices the lead character of Maul in the animated series.
Ian McDiarmid
He is a veteran actor known for his portrayal of Emperor Palpatine across multiple live-action and animated Star Wars projects.
Brad Rau
He serves as the supervising director for the animated series and oversees character portrayals.
The details
Sam Witwer, who serves as a consulting producer, noted that while he voiced the Emperor during hallucinatory episodes in season one, a return for the character outside of visions could lead to McDiarmid reprising the role. McDiarmid has previously voiced the character for animated projects including The Bad Batch, Tales of the Jedi, and Rebels.
Timeline
Maul: Shadow Lord released on Disney+ on April 6, 2026.
Sam Witwer discussed the potential casting in a Collider interview published September 29, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This potential casting move highlights the ongoing strategy within the Star Wars animation pipeline to bridge legacy character portrayals with new storytelling on Disney+. By aligning voice acting talent with established franchise history, the production aims to maintain narrative consistency and appeal to long-time viewers.
Fans can look forward to the return of the series for its second season, which was renewed prior to the premiere of the first. Viewers can watch current episodes exclusively on Disney+.
The takeaway
The series illustrates how animated storytelling can evolve by blending new perspectives with long-standing franchise actors. Fans should watch for future production updates as the show moves into its second season.
Further reading
Explore the latest developments in the Animation section to learn more about upcoming series trends.
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