Ian McDiarmid returns to Star Wars as the sinister Emperor Palpatine for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The actor and the character were the surprise reveal at the end of the teaser trailer shown to conclude today’s panel at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago.

The trailer, which depicts a showdown between Rey and Kylo Ren, ends with Episode IX’s full title, and then the evil, contemptuous chortle for which McDiarmid has become known since 1983’s Return of the Jedi.

“Roll it again,” McDiarmid commanded, in character, as the trailer re-played and a livestream audience was shown the reactions of cast members Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and others.

McDiarmid, 74, has portrayed Palpatine in four of the character’s five film appearances — Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. With Supreme Leader Snoke eliminated in The Last Jedi, it makes sense for director J.J. Abrams to bring back the original Sith puppet master — especially given Kylo Ren’s ongoing struggle with his Skywalker heritage. That said, Palpatine was thrown down a shaft, into an explosion, aboard a Death Star that itself was blown up, at the end of Return of the Jedi. While no body was recovered, it remains to be seen whether we’re getting corporeal Sheev or just his Force ghost.

“This is the third act of a three-act structure,” Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said today. “That’s exactly what it is. We immersed ourselves in everything George created, talked about it endlessly, and we’re so excited.”

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premieres Dec. 20, 2019.