Is the Emperor in Star Wars Episode 9? J.J. Abrams says “he’s in the poster for a reason”

Details about Star Wars 9 are still mostly under wraps, particularly when it comes to those corrupted by the Dark Side of the Force. Director J.J. Abrams, though, has given out a few hints about the Emperor’s potential involvement in Rise of Skywalker, as well as a “mindblowing” performance from Adam Driver as Kylo Ren.

“That’s part of what the story is [about],” Abrams told MTV News during a recent interview when asked about both the Emperor’s role in Star Wars 9 and who the ultimate ‘Big Bad’ will be. “I will say that, with the Emperor around, he’s not gonna be… the cuddly pal. I can’t wait to see how that plays out, but he’s in the poster for a reason.”

Someone else well-versed in the way of the Sith is Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren. The idea that the Sith Lord would eventually flip back to the side of light has been circulating ever since his assassination of Supreme Leader Snoke in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Abrams is keeping any story beats close to his chest in the regard, but teased that Driver, “is mindblowing in this, he’s brought a whole other level” and on the subject of Kylo Ren’s redemption, a cryptic, but ultimately interesting response that should tide #Bendemption (yep, that’s a whole thing) fans over until December: “you can never limit what [Adam Driver] can do.”