At long last, the biggest outstanding question in the “Star Wars” universe has been answered: Emperor Palpatine’s first name is Sheev.
Oh, that wasn’t your biggest question? Really? Well, it got answered anyway, as the big bad leader of the Empire’s name was revealed as part of an excerpt from the upcoming novel “Tarkin: Star Wars*.”
The book, which hits stores November 4, focuses on the “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” character Grand Moff Tarkin, and his rise to power in the Empire (before ultimately being blown up in the first Death Star). During the course of the in-continuity book, it’s revealed for the first time that Palpatine is actually named, “Sheev Palpatine.”
We won’t dwell on the fact that it sounds like the usually lisping emperor is mispronouncing the name Steve, and instead can speculate that – like most of the names in “Star Wars” – it has a pretty obvious double meaning. Specifically the villainous Sith characters don’t have the most subtle hidden meanings ever: Darth Maul, Darth Sidious and even Darth Vader (loosely German for “Dark Father”) all have very surfacey analogues.
So if we were to venture a guess, Sheev isn’t secretly “Steve Palpatine,” it’s probably short for Shiva, the Hindu deity who is both benefactor and destroyer. In “Star Wars,” Palpatine – or Sheev, if you’re friendly with him – initially poses as the savior of the galaxy, before ultimately turning out to be the villainous Darth Sidious.
Regardless, you now don’t have to awkwardly refer to him as “Mr. Palpatine” when you meet up at parties.
*Related: we’re also pretty sure the title of the book may be someone mishearing, “Talkin’ Star Wars.” Ermahgerd! Stir Wers Berks!
Alex Zalben
Writer/Editor at MTV News. You can follow him on Twitter, but not in real life because that would be weird.
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