In latest 'Star Wars Episode 7' news, new reports claim that a familiar villain will return to attack Luke Skywalker and his allies in the upcoming movie.

According to numerous rumors, the nefarious Emperor Palpatine (aka Darth Sidious) is still alive and he wants to resurrect his fallen Galactic Imperial Empire in the new film.

Palpatine was believed to be killed by his former Sith apprentice Darth Vader by throwing him down a large tube before the second Death Star exploded, thanks to Lando Calrissian piloting the Millennium Falcon. After which Obi Wan Kenobi's former friend reverted back to the light side of the Force when the evil Emperor tried to electrocute Anakin's only son Luke.That happened only after the protagonist refused to join the Evil Empire in the 1983 'Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi' film

"My source told me that The Emperor "100%" will appear in Star Wars Episode VII and VIII. Don't look for confirmations from this from Ian McDiarmid, because he's not portraying the Emperor this time. Will this big bad resemble the craggy old man of Return of the Jedi? Now that is the question," said Kellvin Chavez in his Latino-Review report.

Actor Ian McDiarmid recently talked about possibly reprising his role as Senator/Emperor Palpatine (from the prequel trilogy) in the upcoming movie.

"I'm definitely not in [Episode VII]. As you know, he's dead by then! I know, we believe in reincarnation, and holograms...," said McDiarmid at the London Film and Comic-Con last month, according to a Slash Films report.

He went on to say, "But you know, they are going to take many twists on the story as the years go on, and I guess they may go back to a time - I've got no clue, I'm speaking off the top of my head - when the Emperor ran the universe. And I don't want anyone else to play him, do I?"

'Star Wars Episode 7' will be the first Star Wars film made by Lucasfilms after Disney acquired the rights.

The movie is expected to feature the return of Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia Organa), and Harrison Ford as space cowboy Han Solo in the upcoming film.

'Star Wars Episode 7' is set to arrive in theaters on December 18, 2015.