Matt Smith and the Curious Case of the Missing Star Wars Role: Is *Starfighter* His True Destiny?
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Matt Smith, previously shrouded in mystery for his un-played role in *The Rise of Skywalker*, is now confirmed as the villain in the new film *Star Wars: Starfighter*, offering a fresh start for the franchise and a chance to move beyond the infamous "Somehow, Palpatine returned" debacle.
Right, so buckle up, space cadets. You know that feeling when a magic spell goes a bit wonky, and instead of banishing the goblin, you accidentally summon three more, all wearing tiny hats? That's kinda how I feel about Lucasfilm's handling of dear old Palpatine in the recent Star Wars trilogy. "Somehow, Palpatine returned," they said. And honestly, for a lot of us, that line was about as satisfying as finding out your legendary loot drop was just another common grey item in a massive grind-fest. Turns out, it almost went down a *very* different rabbit hole, and our mate Matt Smith was right there at the precipice.
Our chums over at Polygon, bless their digital hearts, just pinged us with some rather juicy news that's got me tinkering with the timeline like a mad chrono-wizard. They're reporting that Matt Smith, he of Doctor Who fame and that ridiculously brilliant turn in *House of the Dragon*, is joining the cast of *Star Wars: Starfighter*. Apparently, he's set to play the villain in this upcoming movie directed by Shawn Levy, starring Ryan Gosling. Now, that's already a headline to perk up your ears, but here’s where it gets proper interesting, mate.
Cast your mind back a few years, to the build-up for *Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker*. Remember the whispers? The internet was abuzz, theories flying faster than an X-wing through an asteroid field. Variety broke the news back in 2018 that Matt Smith had been cast in *Rise of Skywalker*. Subsequent rumours (and boy, did we feast on those like a Sarlacc on unsuspecting prey) suggested he was poised to play a young clone of Emperor Palpatine. Yeah, you heard that right. A *young clone*. Think about that for a second.
Smith himself, being the delightfully cagey chap he is, even hinted in an interview that his role in the film was supposed to be "transformative." He wouldn't directly comment on the Palpatine clone speculation, but he didn’t exactly dismiss it with a wave of his sonic screwdriver either. The air was thick with anticipation. We were all mentally preparing for a storyline that, while perhaps still a bit... *odd*... felt at least a tad more thought-out than what we eventually got. A Palpatine clone, perhaps a vessel, a new body for the ancient evil – it had a certain dark poetry to it, a twisted logic rooted in Sith lore, like a glitch in the Force's source code that needed a unique patch.
But then, as we all know, poof! Matt Smith was nowhere to be seen in *The Rise of Skywalker*. Vanished. Like a player character who clips through the map and falls into the void just before the final boss fight. Instead, the original Emperor himself, Ian McDiarmid, returned. And bless him, he did his best to chew the scenery like it was a particularly tasty Hutt, but the narrative... well, it landed with the grace of a brick, didn't it? The whole "Somehow, Palpatine returned" line became an instant meme, a testament to what felt like a truly baffling narrative choice. It left legions of fans scratching their heads, wondering what in the name of all that is holy actually happened to Smith's reported role. Was it cut? Replaced? Did the script get rewritten in a galaxy far, far away during a particularly chaotic dev sprint? We may never know for sure, and that, my friends, is a mystery for the ages, like trying to figure out the exact drop rate of that one elusive raid boss mount.
Now, fast forward to today, and Matt Smith is back in the Star Wars universe, confirmed for *Star Wars: Starfighter*. And this time, he's the big bad villain. We know frustratingly little about *Starfighter* itself, beyond a few tantalising breadcrumbs: it's set roughly five years after *The Rise of Skywalker*, Mia Goth (who's been absolutely nailing it in horror recently, fair dinkum) is also on board, and it was penned by Jonathan Tropper, who's got some solid action-packed TV cred with *Banshee* and *Warrior*.
So, what does this all mean, eh? My clever little observation wizard brain is already spotting patterns. Is this Lucasfilm trying to right a past wrong? Are they acknowledging the collective "WTF?" that followed Smith's original vanishing act? It feels a bit like a game studio announcing a highly anticipated sequel with a beloved actor who was unceremoniously dropped from the previous entry. It’s a chance for a do-over, a redemption arc not just for Smith, but perhaps for the narrative consistency of the wider Star Wars universe itself.
One thing is almost certain though, and Polygon agrees: Smith won't be playing Palpatine in *Star Wars: Starfighter*. And honestly, thank the stars for that. As much as I love a good villain, bringing Palpatine back *again* so soon after the last... *unconvincing*... resurrection would be like trying to resurrect a boss in a raid after you’ve already defeated them three times with increasingly convoluted mechanics. It would just feel tired, a rehash of a rehash.
This new casting, with Smith playing a fresh villain, presents a genuine opportunity for Lucasfilm to introduce something genuinely innovative. A new big bad, untainted by convoluted retcons or forced explanations, could be precisely what the Star Wars saga needs right now. It’s like a new expansion pack that introduces a completely fresh antagonist and lore, rather than just recycling an old one with a new coat of paint. It allows for new stories to flourish, new dangers to emerge, and gives talented actors like Matt Smith a canvas to truly explore a character without the baggage of past narrative missteps.
We, the players in this grand Star Wars game, are always hoping for those truly epic quest lines, those moments that make us gasp and cheer. While I'm always cautiously optimistic (and gently skeptical) about big studios, especially when they're making a fuss, this feels like a surprisingly good decision. It’s about focusing on building forward, rather than constantly looking back and trying to patch up old plot holes. Here's hoping *Starfighter* hits the sweet spot and gives Matt Smith the transformative Star Wars role he was always meant to have. A role that doesn't just return, but actually *arrives* with purpose and impact.
Tags: Star Wars, Gaming Culture, Movie News, Lore, Fan Theories
Original article: Polygon