Having been set up as one of the big mysteries of the Sequel Trilogy in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Supreme Leader Snoke found himself cut down in Star Wars: The Last Jedi before being brushed aside completely in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker with a throwaway reveal that the First Order mastermind was a construct of Emperor Palpatine and his Dark Side cronies.
While we’ll likely get more information on Snoke from Lucasfilm’s various novels and comics in due course, a new description from an official Star Wars book has offered some clarification, describing the character as “a genetic strandcast (artificial)” but confirming that he has “free will”:
“It’s possible Snoke himself may not know his true nature. Snoke is a strandcast – an artificial genetic construct concocted by the resurrected Darth Sidious to be his proxy in power. Snoke has free will, but his actions and goals are still orchestrated by Sidious.”
Given that the decision to resurrect Emperor Palpatine wasn’t made until J.J. Abrams came on board Episode IX, it seems pretty clear there was never any clear plan for Snoke in the Sequel Trilogy and that ultimately he turned out to be nothing more than a placeholder – both figuratively and literally.
Were you disappointed with the way the Sequel Trilogy handled Supreme Leader Snoke? Are you still hoping to learn more about the character? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker sees J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) directing a cast that includes Star Wars veterans Daisy Ridley (Rey), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Billie Lourd (Lieutenant Connix), Greg Grunberg (Snap Wexley), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine) and Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa) as well as new additions Naomi Ackie (Lady Macbeth), Richard E. Grant (Logan), Dominic Monaghan (Lost), and Keri Russell (The Americans).
Via Twitter