I apologize if this has been mentioned already, but...
In the new DK cross sections book called Inside the Worlds of the Star Wars Trilogy, there is a cut-away of the Emperor's tower on Death Star II on pages 44-45. It shows the throne room where the final duel takes place, the reactor shaft, and many areas that are not shown in the film.

One area is Palpatine's office, roughly opposite the throne room, behind the elevator. It is decorated in much the same way as we see in AOTC. The squat pointy eared statue is even present.

Another statue is labeled something close to: "a gift from Moff Panaka, a long-time supporter". That's not a direct quote, but it is something along those lines. So... if it is the same Panaka from TPM, and he is a long-time supporter, and STILL IS at the time of ROTJ, then can we assume that he was in on the whole plot w/ Palpy from the time before the Battle of Naboo? It puts a slightly different spin on his character in TPM if that is what is being implied. Is Hugh playing Panaka in ROTS?

Panaka isn't in ROTS as far as I know.
Captain Typho had replaced his role since AOTC.
Interesting find nonetheless.

Probably just George reusing names.

I don't think this is a potential spoiler or anything at all. I think it's an EU thing.

Perhaps since Panaka is in combat service on Naboo, he moves up the Imperial ranks once the Republic is turned into an Empire. After all, Naboo is the home-planet of Palpatine and Panaka. It's not a stretch to say they may know each other considering they had scenes on the same set during the film and where in the same room at the same time. In The Phantom Menace, Panaka was happy to see him made Supreme Chancellor. I don't read the EU at all so I may be wrong but it seems like some place the EU would go.

Well, Panaka is head of security for the Royal Leader of Naboo, it would make sense that he is a Moff (governor of regional security under the direction of the Grand Moff Tarkin).

After the disagreement that got him replaced by Typho, I wouldn't be surprised to see Panaka turned into an Imperial stooge.

But I suspect the person who wrote that was just reusing the name. Oddly enough, sometimes it's hard to make up EU names.

DAT NIGGA WENT DARKSEID CUZZ

Sounds like an EU money spinner to me.

Shit if the EU was smart they'd explore this angle in a comic book or something.

To tell the truth I think it would very fucking cool if Panaka did show up at Palpatine's side at the end of ROTS on the star destroyer. It would definitely be a 'whoa' moment to see Panaka in an Imperial uniform.



Then again Palpatine don't like black folk, only Vader.

Will someone explain the Emperor's racism to me? Where is this seen on film? I've heard of this for years now and have never known where this has stemmed from. It sounds like something from EU, but I often find people who are anti-EU posting this. Or is this just speculation because we only see white humans in the empire? The Geonosians and his best buds the Neimoidians of the Trade Federation seem to imply he works well with other races. What am I missing? Someone clue me in.

It arose out of sheep explanation for the lack of Aliens on Imperial Star Destroyers. It never occured to them that rubber alien suits may not look as good in the harsh light of a SD bridge compared to the dark of Mos Eisley cantina or Jabba's palace. Notice how no one ever says anything about the lack of aliens in the Rebellion before ROTJ....guess the rebels were racist too up til that point.

I'm not sure about aliens, non-Brits, etc. but have you seen any black people in the Empire? There simply aren't any. So far at least. I'd be surprised if ROTS changes that.

Hey Moff Panaka could do the trick!

Panaka is the "token" Moff. Every Empire has one.

I think I'd heard that calling a character "Moff Panaka" was Lucasfilm's stab at Hugh Quarshie, since he demanded too much money for Episode II.

I'm not sure about that. I always heard that he wanted a guarantee he wouldn’t die in the Episode 2 and Lucasfilm refused to sign him with that guarantee. Perhaps he wanted more money because of the possibility he would die?

PANAKA
Vader, I don't think we can...*cough*splutter*cough*

PANAKA dies in a heap.

You guys are forgetting about Moff Ric Ollie.

What happened to the rest of the replies in this thread?

They probably tested positive for stupidity....