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.
Star Wars: Timelines from authors Kristin Baver, Jason Fry, Cole Horton, Amy Richau, and Clayton Sandell provides concrete dates for the entire Star Wars timeline. This includes confirmation of when Palpatine was born and when he began his rise to power in the Republic, which debunks the theory about his origin. While it would've been cool to see Palpatine appear in the upcoming Star Wars project set before The Phantom Menace, this update officially makes it impossible. Here's what Star Wars: Timelines revealed about Palpatine's origin story and how it debunks a popular Star Wars theory.
Palpatine Officially Wasn't Alive At The Time Of The Acolyte 
One Star Wars theory claimed that Palpatine would appear in the upcoming The Acolyte TV series, but Star Wars: Timelines confirms that he wasn't alive at that point. The Acolyte will be set in 132 BBY, 100 years before The Phantom Menace, but Palpatine was born in 84 BBY. This makes it impossible for him to make an appearance in The Acolyte and subtly debunks any theories that Star Wars fans may have had. Star Wars: Timelines also reveals that Palpatine was elected Senator of Naboo in 52 BBY, taking Maul as his apprentice 12 years later, so any story about Sidious' origin would likely be set around that time.
