Ian McDiarmid reading Star Wars Shakespare

[@gentrywalker]

Ian McDiarmid was the best actor in the prequels.

[@adambesley4455]

+Gentry Walker Absolutely.

[@superroblox123186567]

+Gentry Walker Ewan McGregor and he was the only reason I can sit through them.

[@bretth4988]

+Gentry Walker Yes they should have make a film from the Sith point of view.

[@AishaVonFossen]

+Gentry Walker Word! :D

[@Warriorcats64]

+Austin G Hell no, Jackson was wooden and boring as f&*k...M. Night Shyamalan directed him better, no joke. No, McDiarmid, McGregor, and Neeson were easily the best.

[@Boofus90]

Wow you still got it master.

[@CrypticHowl]

Maul is the only true Sith boy!

[@0mnicide]

No, I am.

[@mycubiclepenguin868]

true

[@Double-R-Nothing]

No kidding, Lord Vader. You are scary again, as well! That young deviant, the one who calls himself "Chad Vader", the one who desecrated your great name by voicing you in Star Wars Battlefront, has been UTTERLY FORGOTTEN!! By the way, great job destroying those rebels over Scarif.

[@LanziBen]

Fuck off Vader is a god

[@rockoperajon]

Sound tech 1: Hey, that's a cool echo effect you put on his mic! Sound tech 2: Um, actually, I forgot to turn the echo on.

[@Deadpool-px2nm]

rockoperajon Tis a small sample; the true power of the dark side of the force.

[@bastardjustice]

Then cue sith lord theme*

[@piloto2412]

DECEPTION

[@Bitchtheman]

UNLIMITED POW-WA

[@MrPjw5]

It’s a shame I can’t like this comment more than once.

[@Jeyslayer_]

Imagine McDiarmid being elected as President and giving his election speech. Edit 2024: Thanks for the love 6k likes. We all stand for the Emperor Palpatine.

[@AishaVonFossen]

+PrinceV1R This should be a thing! LOL

[@Alex-24610]

The emperor would still be better than Trump

[@TheEldarie]

+PrinceV1R Holy crap, that would be magnificent!

[@donwinslow6967]

+PrinceV1R I'd pay big money to see how Donald Trump's hair would react to an onslaught of Force lightning.

[@AishaVonFossen]

Don Winslow Yeah!!! The Emperor kicking Donald Trump's ass! I like this! LOL

[@BewareOfNerd]

Wow. Good-natured grandpa to scariest guy in the galaxy in two seconds.

[@perseus1666]

He went 0 to 100 real quick.

[@DealsFS]

Just like the prequels

[@blzahz7633]

_"Good-natured grandpa to the senate in two seconds"_ Ftfy.

[@dancastro4732]

Evil comes in all disguises

[@skinnysnorlax9356]

Or the scariest grandpa in the galaxy for some people...

[@kobk9709]

This man is the dark side.

[@ConnerVain]

Kob K he's the senate

[@Afeeq1011]

Shadow Shock 2 not yet

[@Adventurer_Gaming]

Syafeeq Said It's treason then

[@anakinskywalker9773]

Kob K Ian needs to return as Palpatine in New Film.. Sidious was true Evil.. You Can't Kill True Evil

[@mrgotham3685]

Jonathan Pagan OUUUUWWWWWAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

[@GavsWeatherVids]

Star Wars was so lucky to have Ian. WOW!

[@Bounty_Hunter84]

+RikkyCZ I agree.

[@kevinhasch6439]

GavsWeatherVids He made that movie awesome

[@leonderprofie123]

I wish I was Ian. I'd speak like Palpatine all day.

[@cosmosreality222]

🤣lol

[@joeofmacabre07]

"Dew It!"

[@bernhardderstift3177]

Digga ich seh sich überall

[@CaptainCoolzCT-]

Imagine being Ian, waking up and realising you’re late for something and saying to yourself in Palpatine's voice, "Prepare my Shuttle for take off, Commander. I believe that I am late for my arrival..."

[@jonathanrichwine1996]

You don’t already do that?

[@jonathan8087]

damn that voice plus reverb make it look like he's calling out from the grave as a Sith ghost.

[@jonathan8087]

Cameos!! Unlimited Cameos!!

[@brandonbowerstx]

John Shepard Bravo!!

[@spacemanmonster23]

It's as if he's talking inside your head!!

[@pkmovies92]

+Project "confirmed" huh?... ;P

[@punishedvenomsnake716]

Sidious as a Sith Spirit on Korriban.... I could see it

[@hopfinatorischerkuchenkrieger]

0:34: "Yeah come on, hate me, hate me." _Let the hate flow through you._

[@_chew_]

I was going to like your comment, but then I saw it already has 66 likes, and that's too perfect.

[@somedude5581]

"Your hate has made you powerful. Now, fulfill your destiny!"

[@bastardjustice]

If luke were there he'd be like, "Oh you'd like that won't you? "

[@nofacedgoldfish6216]

@@_chew_ Someone ruined it.

[@lilmoris1]

Plot twist: Ian is Emperor Palpatine

[@Double-R-Nothing]

Apparently, he uses an ancient Japanese technique that uses the stomach to project his voice, resulting in the guttural croak that he is so famous for.

[@JourneyToTheCage]

No, Ian is the senate

[@chipmunkDoesStuff]

Suburban Slingshots damn you beat me to it!

[@kennethcastelino2667]

No, he is DARTH SIDIOUS !

[@AnakinSkywakka]

@@Double-R-Nothing What's it called? I wanna learn how to do it!

[@emperoring112]

He turns that darkness on and off so unbelievably. Like he became Palpatine in front of everybody and then switched back to himself immediately afterwards.

[@JibrilPC]

just like palpatine does, he can disguise himself easily

[@Atoronz]

That's not acting... The Senate is real.

[@GhostLink92]

The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities, some consider to be... unnatural.

[@Eggy79]

@@Atoronz He is the Senate

[@nathanbroderick1317]

His voice is terrifying as Darth Sidious.

[@TheGhostbuster1989]

He IS Darth Sidious.

[@CheeseTruffles]

@@TheGhostbuster1989 What are you talking about he’s the Senate

[@paladinheadquarters7776]

@@CheeseTruffles not yet

[@justin5096]

@@paladinheadquarters7776 it's treason then

[@Silverritter]

@@justin5096 Raahhhhhhh!!

[@underthesun-ml4mu]

The way he switched to Palpatine sounded so terrifying I thought he was gonna execute order 66 on the entire audience

[@TheTruMan196]

Best choice for Sidious. Can't get any better than Ian

[@starscapearchitect]

They started with someone else in ESB, and he felt so wrong... So glad they didn't stick with him and even changed that scene to have Ian in it.

[@danhouse1989]

@@starscapearchitect probably one of the better changes made to the originals

[@FireLordJohn3191]

@@danhouse1989 The first was actually a woman in a robe and voiced by someone else...

[@nurlailatulafiqahbintiramb6348]

Just look at his shirt

[@KyloRen0127]

@@FireLordJohn3191 He was originally voiced by Clive Revill.

[@CEB1896]

“Thy feeble skills are nothing when compared to all the power of the dark side” - The Senate

[@mediaguy4037]

Not yet.

[@masonr.powers7196]

Media Guy+ It’s treason, then.

[@Pacbandit13]

That gave me goosebumps

[@adamsanter9385]

It's been 10 years, but he's still got it.

[@UnknownPersononGoogle]

Adam Santer He probably does it in the shower.

[@Adeon55]

Just 10 years? He was Sidious for the original trilogy, back in the early 80's, as well. :)

[@mrd3993]

Been more than 10 yrs

[@lilcolgatevert3715]

@@mrd3993 No it wasn't. Comment was written 3 years ago

[@lilcolgatevert3715]

@@Adeon55 It's been 10 years (since his last official role reprisal), but he's still got it" Did you really need that clarification to understand it?

[@obi-wankenobi4301]

Ian: * Finishes speech, looks at host * Host: *Is dead on the floor*

[@chrisnazareth4114]

Is it possible to learn this power?

[@nettraveller81]

Hello there

[@abdulbah2176]

@@chrisnazareth4114 not from a Jedi

[@thekinggamer488]

​@@nettraveller81 General kenobi.

[@jessicafielding8643]

few appreciate that Ian McDiarmid is classically trained; he voices the devil in the Paradise Lost audiobook, plays the brief but spooky role of the Porter in Macbeth, and much more. Also, I was plesantly suprised to find that the Shakespearean Star Wars volumes are well written and not goofy

[@AishaVonFossen]

+Jessica Poggi Wow, he voices Satan in a Paradise Lost audio book? That sounds pretty awesome! :D I remember seeing him as the Porter in Macbeth, I watched it in 8th grade after we read the play. He was a bit spooky but he actually made me laugh. LOL I like how he broke the fourth wall in the beginning of that soliloquy by looking directly in the camera and beckoning us to come nearer, that was just so funny. XD Yeah, I read a bit of the Star Wars Shakespeare books, and seeing it performed here is just even better, I'm glad they're well written, too. It's honestly a shame that Ian isn't a more popular actor, because he's really good at what he does, his own brand of classic Shakespearean actor for sure. :D

[@risingsonfilms]

+Jessica Poggi where can i buy that on itunes

[@GeffenAvraham]

Always remember, evil, sin, temptation... the devil's side are they.

[@aliliatapueluelu2951]

RisingSonEntertainment

[@Syklonus]

He's one of Scotland's best exports.

[@charadreemurr5290]

Just your average Senate meeting

[@nurlailatulafiqahbintiramb6348]

Not Y E T

[@lukacrnomarkovic8172]

Nurlailatul Afiqah Binti Rambeli are you threatening me master jedi?

[@Psychowarz]

@@lukacrnomarkovic8172 the Senate will decide your fate

[@guzzledgumps2322]

I AM the Senate.

[@jamiengo2343]

@@guzzledgumps2322 not yet!!

[@hughjasse4047]

that gave me the chills

[@Styleth]

Hugh Jass me too

[@BatDadx]

Me three

[@hughjass4564]

Nice name

[@logicalfallacy234]

It's crazy how his voice only gets even more wicked as he gets older. A part of me kind of wants Lucas to have him re-record his lines in ROTJ, since he sounds different and higher pitched there than he does in ROTS and here.

[@KrisFrost4359]

logicalfallacy234 Now he’s closer to the age Palpatine was in the movie.

[@AlexanderDiviFilius]

Considering all the changes Lucas made to the OT, it's best that it's kept as unaltered as possible in substance from here on. Considering the gap from when you see him on screen, I think it'd only be noticeable when compared side-by-side, or by the super fans. But then again, us super fans would notice any minor discrepancy.

[@ardas77]

@@KrisFrost4359 Palpatine is 120 years old in the RotJ.

[@KrisFrost4359]

@@ardas77 No, he was 86. According to several sources, he was born 82 years before the Battle of Yavin, which would make him 86 at the time of the Battle of Endor.

[@darthethan1995]

L0L L0L L7L Emperor Palpatine was 88 years old in Return of the Jedi.

[@andrejackson5132]

dude Ian mcdiarmid is the ULTIMATE Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of Sith.

[@andremaccarini1656]

The way he says "the power of the dark side" is just incredible. The man still has it.

[@Sylinnilys]

"Thy feeble skills are nothing(echo)..." The lightness with that comes off as mocking and emphisizes his following words, impressive.

[@Eggy79]

And to think he did this on the fly with no context. Imagine what he could have done if he had a chance to sit down and really dig into the passage. What an actor.

[@tholian_web]

What a brilliant artist. Ian should be knighted by the Queen as so many of his contemporaries like Ian McKellan and Christopher Lee have been.

[@LesterRamos]

Ian is no Knight. He's a lord. A dark lord if you will. Lol

[@carterlando423]

He is the Senate.

[@latenightronnie]

I've actually heard that Ian was offered one and turned it down

[@darthethan1995]

Alec Guinness was Knighted.

[@dragoninthewest1]

@@carterlando423 well he's English so it would be he is the parliament.

[@treyj5308]

God i'm trying to impersonate Sidious, I've gotten far, but this is so fucking raw omg

[@Styleth]

Nice ;D Let's hear it!

[@Pr0ud4ng3l]

i'm curious too!

[@새우-q1k]

I want emperor own movie with ian McDiarmid...

[@xxzxzxzxx6974]

saame

[@remnant1018]

I said the same on another video. They ought to make a Palpatine backstory movie before it’s too late.

[@brianbrush5107]

It'd be like House of cards but in space

[@Sir_Gugharde_Wuglis]

Sighhh... did you see episode 9?

[@suudhejsdhshshdhxjdjud9548]

trashu

[@TheSixthDoctor]

Ian Doescher's Shakespeare rewrites are great fun. I especially like the pun he put in there. Palpatine's torturing Luke with Force Lightning, talking about a poetic debt he is owed, then this happens: "O what joy it brings to charge thee thus!" He's talking about charging someone while conducting electricity through them.

[@scaper8]

The Sixth Doctor The best part about those kinds of puns in a Shakespeare-like work, is that it's exactly the same kind of multilayer pun the Bard himself would have used.

[@maxalaintwo3578]

The wit is not lost on any of us it seems

[@maxalaintwo3578]

@Seph it's treason then

[@NatalieN500]

i didn’t put that together until now

[@straightpimpin888]

*Producer to sound tech* Producer: WOW great effect adding that echo to his mic! Sound Tech: Uh sir....that’s not me....

[@TREVORVADER]

Matthew Stormwolf honestly I like to believe that’s just Ian’s presence resonating throughout the room

[@Sylinnilys]

Some have argued it could be his voice vibrating between his two mics. Not sure.

[@FireLordJohn3191]

danieltjayx11 then you have to ask... was it planned?

[@dariusfarrel3228]

Cause: Ian is Palpatine/Darth Sidious George Lucas didnt even edit it or add anything Ian’s voice is just like that

[@transformersrevenge9]

@@dariusfarrel3228 yeah, George didn't even add the Lightning effects. That was all Ian.

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

That was fucking incredible.

[@davyjones-locker979]

Classic, "Thy feebles skills are nothing when compared to all the power of the dark side." "I, Thy debt is due, and I am both thy creditor and thy collector, too."

[@joshm3779]

Davy Jones-Locker Great account name!

[@albertnortononymous9020]

*Aye

[@AishaVonFossen]

At 1:59, when he says, "What thou hast not repaid with thy belief, I shall extract from thine own flesh," my skin crawled, quite a chilling line. LOL

[@josephrutchik5777]

Are you kidding me?! How have I not seen this before? The classically trained McDiarmid reading Shakespeare Star Wars. I just... no words. And he's so nonchalant when he finishes. A true gentleman.

[@ermonski]

Emperor Palpatine does a good impression of Ian McDiarmid

[@CatMaster90001]

Those echos... _those fucking echos_... ALL the chills. I has them.

[@giftheck]

"And then of course the lightning. Still mine!" I have no idea how many people got that, but I like that nod!

[@cosmicdream17]

Unlimited Powaaah!!

[@meganphillips8087]

It’s a shame Ian McDiarmid doesn’t get enough recognition for his role as the greatest villain of all movie history. He deserves more attention and respect.

[@sirclassicalhou3650]

Fully agreed!

[@benwasserman8223]

Who else loves how Ian McDiarmid's Emperor Palpatine voice just echoes across the entire room?

[@sirclassicalhou3650]

I was struck at the awesome effects of it! I loved it so much and it just reeks of the Dark Side!

[@johnsullivan7679]

the voice is awesome it my ring tone

[@jll716]

I actually thought it was distracting. I’d rather hear Ian’s unadulterated talent with no gimmicks.

[@Whoami691]

There would be no finer actor to portray palpatine. Thank you Ian McDiarmid! All it was missing is an 'UHNLHIMETEED POWAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

[@animatedink2529]

+Whoami691 In the William Shakespeare version of Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine does get a version of it. And it actually sounds legit cool, better than in the movie. It's "O pow'r unlimited, I AM YOUR GOD!!!!"

[@jonnnyren6245]

This, is power beyond anything... Master Sidious still has it.

[@Pacbandit13]

You could say unlimited power

[@trevorvallo5841]

Next year, it'll be ten years since this interview.

[@damienkilcannonvryce]

"...what joy it brings, to charge thee just..."

[@Paulunatr]

One-upping a character as intimidating and well executed as Darth Vader is ambitious enough. Making him a much smaller old man is even harder. Taking that concept and making it "real" on-screen, nailing every aspect of the character from casting and writing to makeup and leitmotif? Madness. I can't think of a single way they could've done better. George, Ian, and everyone involved deserve all the credit they get for Sheev. The character is one of the shining stars of an already very bright franchise.

[@RobertoCarlosGomezSosa]

That voice is a national treasure !!

[@finesse2119]

Ian is amazing love how with a little reverb he can sound so evil when putting on that voice that we all know and love

[@Gasoline85]

The one TRUE emperor.

[@EpaminondastheGreat]

It is ironic you used a quote that I, myself, used in the Rise of Skywalker four years ago...To be specific, "...and now, the power of two restores the one true Emperor!"

[@timeisflowing74]

@@EpaminondastheGreat omg that's true ahahahha

[@JoshuaAndres]

His voice alone can topple democracy

[@vondas1480]

So this is how liberty dies. With thunderous oration

[@16Arson]

This man is amazing.

[@savage7882]

The older he gets the more like the emperor he sounds

[@kross2659]

The more wrinkles he gets the more he’s gonna look like the Emperor he won’t need the prosthetic makeup anymore, all he’ll need are just the yellow contacts and the dark circles around his eyes, then slap a black robe on him. That means more relief for him from wearing all those thick layers of makeup.

[@anakinskywalker9773]

Master, I just got chills... You Still Have Unlimited POWAH!!!!! What Is Thy Bidding, My Master...

[@erikku0369]

Anakin Skywalker :( traitor

[@AnakinSkywakka]

Get a load of this guy

[@esmeraldadiaz638]

This is getting out of hand! Now there's 2 of them!

[@dancastro4732]

We should not have made this bargain

[@my_MillenniumFalcon]

Listening to Ian speaking like Sheev on a live stage is so unreal!

[@ObiWanBillKenobi]

The Shakespeare Star Wars plays are really well-written. Readers might be surprised how non-gimmicky they are-really true to both their sources!

[@OniSamurai_86]

It's amazing how he starts to get so deeply in the character, even his facial expressions slowly begin to appear evil. What a master!

[@ericgurganus5193]

Ian McDairmin is just amazing.

[@darthmaul7626]

A thousand repressed childhood traumas just came back to me all at once. I... I think I need a hug... :'(

[@home3075]

🫂

[@morbius109]

Ian McDiarmid was, is, and always will be Palpatine. No one else could have done the role with such unforgettable brilliance. Long live our most glorious Emperor!

[@KronoriumKid]

Sidious is already scary enough, but if we saw him talking in a Shakespearean vocabulary normally a lot that would just be another level of horror for me 😭

[@dodywidodo9433]

Hearing his voice, all demons from the Conjuring universe would run away I bet

[@Hurstain]

His Emperor voice got better with age.

[@cosmologicalgarbage5915]

Just like wine, he gets better with age

[@YogsenForfoth]

My god, this is absolutely EXTRAORDINARY.

[@godzilla964]

I don't care who played the emperor in "Empire strikes back". Ian is the emperor.

[@jespereriksen2223]

well. that was Ian as well..?

[@edgyelectrokinetic6761]

@@jespereriksen2223 Originally it was an old woman named Marjorie Eaton with a chimpanzee's eyes edited over hers, given a decent voice by Clyde Revill, but they decided to redo his debut with McDiarmid playing Palpatine for the 2004 edit of TESB

[@jespereriksen2223]

Edgy Electrokinetic oh yeah probably in Empire strikes back. I just meant in return of the jedi

[@ivansproats4676]

The echo is mad 🤣it’s brilliant

[@unLUCKY95]

In his natural voice he sounds like such a nice friendly guy... then all of a sudden this demonic sounding growl comes out of his mouth that just makes me want to shrivel in a corner and beg for my life. Suppose the way he can switch like that is what made him perfect to play Palpatine as the kindly Chancellor and then suddenly switch to Darth Sidious.

[@joelnavarro4629]

Whoever put that Garbage reverb on his voice killed an awesome performance. Sounds like he is in a massive tunnel.

[@greenranger8884]

When he started reading from the book I almost shit myself. Omg. What a voice.

[@Seraphatum]

What a legend!

[@smith9808]

One of the coolest voices of all time. Christopher Lee was another. R.I.P

[@donwinslow6967]

That chilled me to the bone. Ian has still got it. Amazing performance!

[@michaelberry1382]

I love how this man embraces the iconic-ness of the character he played.

[@calebbowers7474]

I can watch this a MILLION TIMES and it doesn't Get Old. He's an Awesome Actor!!

[@blakeikonomou1820]

There is nothing better than an actor who loved playing his role.... Clearly Ian loves playing the Emperor... Oh wait, He is the EMPEROR

[@Nathan_Jay]

Correction: The Emperor of playing Ian

[@helivarpalac2956]

8 years and my hair still stands like crazy whenever I hear him with these lines as Supreme Chancellor and Senate Incarnate Sheeve Palpatine.

[@kerkezpavle]

I am practically speechless.

[@hogarmenos]

Hear this with 'The Emperor's Theme' in the background is just fucking glorious.

[@raifsam3408]

best villian voice ever

[@MaximusMeridiusDK]

Ian takes the microphone and begins.... entire audience goes SILENT!!!!

[@albertoabolafio9383]

I feel so much power when he says power.. amazing

[@azaraiahzee]

He just chews the scenery every time he's on camera, you can tell he absolutely loves that character 😁

[@Karlsteins]

I could listen to him talking about anything with this voice all day

[@southern04man]

Mercy this man's voice is amazing.

[@ShaunakDesaiPiano]

You can tell he deliberately put an extra oomph when he came to “power of the dark side”.

[@drsssssssss]

This guy should have destroyed everybody in ROS.

[@EpaminondastheGreat]

Couldn't agree more my little -green- friend...

[@Cetra29]

I mean he did until the Jedi stepped in.

[@partizanlegis]

@@Cetra29 the Jedi spirits pulled an Endgame

[@seanerzat]

I guess that's why they had all the Jedi spawn in for Rey. I wish I could see the proper JJ Cut, if it's a thing, cuz it sounded like they had Anakin and all the other Force ghosts drop in to battle the Sith with Rey. Cuz in that case it would have been all the top tier Jedi masters backing Rey to beat ol Palps

[@drsssssssss]

@@seanerzat yeah that would have been much better, but my point is Ian the best actor in the entire series, in every scene he has gravitas, and his character is the only one anyone can take seriously.

[@greekpatriot7866]

He was born for this role

[@mikeor-]

Ian McDiarmid: the best Emperor and a great Shakespearean Actor.

[@lonesuicune9985]

Ok I just watched this for the first time and it gave me shivers.

[@ProjectDevilEye]

Ian was BORN to be the ultimate Sith lord, there will never be any better than him.

[@everettcrede]

I bet this is where they said "Ooh we know how we're gonna start Rise of Skywalker!"

[@zen-aku9069]

no one can replace Ian as Darth Sidious

[@phrixos2826]

This is the first time i have seen this! The hairs on ythe back of my arms and neck were stood on end! Totally incredible performance!

[@DanielLopez-fj9yz]

Awesome just pure awesomeness!

[@SingerAtSea87]

Did this give anyone chills!!

[@codylujan]

It must be hard being his grandkids. i'd be begging him to talk as sidious all the time lol

[@FireLordJohn3191]

Though keep in mind he did say, "I just hope I don't indulge myself!" I suspect he gets great joy in acting.

[@MusicMike512]

This is the voice of someone with unlimited power.

[@wooden2187]

I imagine Ian is in his grandchildren's nightmares.

[@active85858585]

Every great franchise must contain an Ian Mc

[@superman31172]

this is awsome he should read children's books with his darth sidious voice

[@VoiceOfTheEmperor]

Every time I watch this, Dudu Films comes to mind.

[@kryptonkobra8396]

It felt like he was talking inside my head

[@joshuapray]

But was he every voice you've ever heard inside your head...?

[@michaelkarimian7538]

I hope Ian Mcdiarmid reads an excerpt from the Darth Plagueis novel someday. I would especially love to hear him recite the speech Sidious gives to him as he’s killing him. Would be a dream come true for me.

[@whotube2610]

Seeing this on my recommend page: "a surprise to be sure, but a welcomed one"