Will Ian McDiarmid reprise the role of Palpatine

I don't think so. Let's face it, he's an old man and he'll be retiring soon. In fact I've even heard rumours that we won't see the character properly again until...wait for it...Episode VI, although we might see a hologram before then. So, no, Ian will be retired by then. I reckon they'll probably get a much younger actor to play the part, some unknown guy in his 30's, but heavily made over.

DL

 

Dude, Palpatine's going to be fighting Yoda again on the Death Plague Moon. If anyone else is playing palptine, I will be angry. Ian's the only guy who can do him justice.

 

It`s a given that Palpatine will have a much larger role in this than he did in ROTS

 

McDiarmid is in his early 60's. There is no reason he should be too old to act. Unless his stage career is keeping him too busy (he is currently in a Broadway production of The Faith Healer), I am sure George would not consider anyone else for the role.