Here's what we know about Palpatine's icy fortress in 'Rise of Skywalker'
Might it connect back to the prophecy of the Chosen One?
The final trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker provided plenty of new images for fans to dissect, but one of the biggest mysteries is that of Emperor Sheev Palpatine’s icy fortress. Much like Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, Palpatine may have taken up residence in the secluded location, waiting for the opportune moment to reemerge and enact his galactic takeover. A fascinating new theory says the icy fortress was actually foretold in the prophecy about Anakin Skywalker.
Warning! Speculative spoilers and leaks ahead for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
In the canonical Star Wars novel Master and Apprentice, which documents the story of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi, there is an additional excerpt from the prophecy of the Chosen One.
Here’s what the prophecy says:
“The danger of the past is not past, but sleeps in an egg. When the egg cracks, it will threaten the galaxy entire.”
Doesn't the icy fortress look a lot like a place Palpatine would hide?
Talk about ominous. If you recall, the original prophecy foretold that a very powerful Force user would bring balance to the Force. That person has always been proclaimed to be Anakin Skywalker. Now that The Rise of Skywalker trailer has confirmed Palpatine’s resurrection, redditor u/thatblondboi00 believes that the egg in the prophecy actually pertains to Palps’ icy fortress. Basically, Sheev coming out of hiding is when the “egg cracks” and his return means the destruction of the galaxy.
There is, of course, no concrete evidence that the icy fortress has anything to do with Palpatine at all. However, the fact that a bunch of starships are seen converging on the fortress, presumably to launch an attack, lend credence to the idea that Palps has been sleeping or recuperating in this secluded place for years.
A previous leak from Making Star Wars claimed Palpatine had isolated himself on the dead planet of Exogol and that the final battle would take place in an underground cavern. We don’t know about you, but that throne room looks like it could be a cavernous room inside that icy structure. If that’s the metaphorical “egg” alluded to in the prophecy, then Palps is the yolk.
It looks like the Iron Throne of rock and ice.
It’s possible that Exogol is an ice planet and inhospitable to most lifeforms, which is why it was the perfect spot for Palpatine to lay low. The dead planet is also located in the unknown regions of the galaxy, which also makes it a great place to hide away.
Palpatine’s voice-over in the trailer seems to confirm the rumor that he schemes to bring Rey and Kylo Ren together. What’s more, we also see Rey confronting a hooded figure that’s probably Palpatine, and it looks like she’s standing on a sheet of ice (or maybe very cold stone).
While the prophecy is always open to interpretation, the theorist offers a new angle regarding the wording and connects The Rise of Skywalker back to the original prophecy of the Chosen One, which has been neglected for quite some time. Whether or not the connection is confirmed remains to be seen, but if there’s ever a time to circle back to it, The Rise of Skywalker provides ample opportunity.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters December 20, 2019.
