Star Wars Legend Ian McDiarmid to Attend Comic Con Cape Town

Celebrating All Things Star Wars

Ian McDiarmid is coming to Comic Con!

Comic Con Cape Town has announced that Star Wars legend Ian McDiarmid will attend the Cape Town festival in 2025! Fans will best know McDiarmid as having acted in the Star Wars saga, first as the Emperor in Return of the Jedi, and then later as both Emperor Palpatine and his villainous alter ego Lord Darth Sidious in the prequel films The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith.

To make his appearance even more epic, he will attend the festival on 3rd and 4th May, which includes international Star Wars Day, popularly known as “May the Fourth” on 4th May.

Get ready to meet the legend himself — Ian McDiarmid, the man behind Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars!

Born in Scotland, Ian is a celebrated actor and director who co-led London’s Almeida Theatre, earning major acclaim for his work on stage. But it was his chilling portrayal of Palpatine that made him a cinematic icon.

Catch him live at #ComicConCapeTown at CTICC 2 on 3–4 May!

An award-winning Scottish actor, McDiarmid will be the fans’ opportunity to meet a legend from the Star Wars franchise. Fans will be able to purchase autograph signings and photo ops with the actor, as well as attend Q&A sessions with him on the Main Stage. This is an incredible opportunity to obtain first-hand insight into the films, and fans can learn a lot more about what is undoubtedly one of the most important sagas in the pop culture universe.

“Star Wars has had a significant impact on modern culture, with references deeply embedded in today’s popular culture. Phrases such as ‘Jedi mindtrick’ and of course ‘May the force be with you’ are common phrases that resonate with a wide spectrum of people” says Carla Massmann, the festival’s Show Director. She continues, “Star Wars helped to launch science fiction as a genre capable of producing blockbuster films, and its special effects are known to have been state-of-the-art. The films pioneered the launch of computer-generated imagery in film”.

Comic Con Cape Town is excited to be bringing McDiarmid to the show and even more so to celebrate May the Fourth with Star Wars fans and the South African community in the biggest way yet. The festival will be bringing the force to all fandoms on May 4th, with many Star Wars themed activities from casual Cosplay competitions to Star Wars quizzes. Vendors on the festival floor will be retailing Star Wars merchandise and collectables.

Rene Staack, the festival’s Content and Talent Director, added “It is an honour to be able to host a true Star Wars legend like Ian McDiarmid on South African soil, and something we are excited to bring to our local Star Wars fans. We are looking forward to seeing festival-goers come out on May 4th to celebrate this acting titan and the Star Wars franchise like never before. As a cross-generational phenomenon, Star Wars unites fans of all ages and we look forward to thrilling them all”.

Comic Con Cape Town 2025 takes place at CTICC 2 from 1 to 4 May. Saturday has officially sold out, and tickets are fast becoming limited. You can buy festival tickets and tickets to personally meet the celebs now, starting from R220, through Howler: www.comiccon.howler.co.za.

About Comic Con Cape Town

Comic Con Cape Town is a multi-day festival celebrating all things pop culture, including comics, film, TV, gaming, anime, and cosplay. The event features an exciting lineup of international and local comic artists, film and TV celebrities, and Cosplayers, alongside workshops, panels, Q&A sessions, screenings, activations, and interactive experiences. Whether you’re a casual fan or a die-hard geek, there’s something for everyone at Comic Con Cape Town 2025.

For more information, visit www.comicconcapetown.co.za.