The identity and backstory of Supreme Leader Snoke has been one of the biggest mysteries in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Very little is known about this mysterious being who emerged to lead the First Order and turn Ben Solo to the dark side after the fall of the Empire. However, there have been many theories by fans that Snoke is actually a clone of Emperor Palpatine gone wrong. Let’s examine the evidence surrounding this theory.
Evidence Supporting Snoke as a Palpatine Clone
There are several clues that point to Snoke potentially being a failed clone of Palpatine:
- Physical Appearance – Snoke shares several physical traits with Palpatine including pale, disfigured skin and piercing blue eyes.
- Powerful Dark Side Abilities – Snoke is incredibly strong with the dark side of the Force, perhaps indicating his origins are rooted in Palpatine.
- Knowledge of the Unknown Regions – Snoke emerged from the mysterious Unknown Regions, a region of space Palpatine himself had significant interest in and operations within.
- First Order Similarities – The First Order shares many similarities to Palpatine’s Galactic Empire, including uniform design, fleet composition, and totalitarian leadership.
These clues seem to hint that Snoke may have been an attempt to clone Palpatine himself and recreate the Empire’s power base in the Unknown Regions. However, something clearly went wrong in the process resulting in Snoke’s disfigured appearance and perhaps a lack of Force ability compared to Palpatine at the height of his power.
Counter Evidence Against the Clone Theory
However, there are also several issues that cast doubt on the idea that Snoke was a direct Palpatine clone:
- Differing Personalities – Snoke’s personality and leadership style seems distinctly different from Palpatine’s charismatic and manipulative approach.
- Lack of Acknowledgement – Neither Snoke nor Palpatine ever acknowledge or indicate any kind of clone relationship.
- Unknown Motivations – It is unclear why Palpatine would create a clone with his own power and then allow him to lead a potential competing faction in the First Order.
- New Clone Technology – The clone technology that created Palpatine’s Snoke-like strandcast clones was supposedly developed after his death, making it unlikely Snoke himself came from an earlier crude attempt.
These issues make it seem less likely that Snoke was simply a botched direct clone of Palpatine through conventional cloning means known in the Star Wars universe.
Theories on Snoke’s Origins
If Snoke is not a literal failed clone, there are some other theories about his possible origins in relation to Palpatine and the Empire:
- Strandcast Clone – He could be a successful early experiment with Palpatine’s strandcast cloning technology seen creating Rey’s father.
- Secret Apprentice – Snoke may have been a secret apprentice of Palpatine trained in the Unknown Regions to rebuild the Empire one day.
- Altered by Experiments – Palpatine’s experiments with the dark side could have mutated Snoke into his disfigured state with a connection to the Emperor.
- Completely Unrelated – His origins may have nothing to do with Palpatine at all.
With little official information from Lucasfilm so far, any of these remain plausible theories. Hopefully more details on Supreme Leader Snoke emerge in the future to unravel this mystery.
Examining Snoke and Palpatine Side-by-Side
To help visualize the similarities and differences between Snoke and Palpatine, here is a side-by-side comparison:
| Trait | Palpatine | Snoke |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Disfigured pale skin, blue eyes | Disfigured pale skin, blue eyes |
| Personality | Charismatic, manipulative | Domineering, arrogant |
| Force Ability | Incredibly powerful dark side user | Powerful dark side user |
| Political Control | Emperor of the Galactic Empire | Supreme Leader of the First Order |
| Base of Operations | Coruscant, Death Star | Unknown Regions |
| Cloning | Used cloning to revive himself | Potentially a clone of Palpatine (unconfirmed) |
While there are definite similarities in appearance and position, key differences in personality and behavior patterns emerge. This may support the idea that Snoke is not a direct clone but perhaps something a bit more complex.
Conclusion
While an intriguing theory, there is no definitive evidence so far to confirm that Supreme Leader Snoke is a failed direct clone of Emperor Palpatine. Their differing personalities and unclear motivations for cloning create doubt, while similarities in appearance, power, and position leave the door open. Snoke’s true origins remain one of the most tantalizing mysteries in the Star Wars universe and more revelations seem imminent as the story continues to unfold. For now, the failed clone theory remains speculative – but convincing enough to make fans wonder if there is a direct connection between these two powerful dark side users across the generations.