A popular theory for Palpatine's origin has been officially debunked, thanks to the newly updated Star Wars timeline. Fans have long speculated on Palpatine's origin in canon, how much of it is similar to Legends, and when it would be featured in a new story. A more recent Star Wars theory even claimed that Palpatine's origin would finally be explored in an upcoming project set before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. However, this is not the case, as the Star Wars franchise has provided more details on Palpatine's early life and when he rose to power in the years before the prequel trilogy.