I’ve been collecting Sith Lords in sixth scale for almost a decade, and the new Hot Toys Palpatine Darth Sidious figure is the first one that makes me pick a side every time I open the display case. This is Hot Toys’ MMS805 take on Sheev Palpatine from Revenge of the Sith, sold through Sideshow for $285, and what sets it apart isn’t the robes or the lightsaber. It’s the fact that you get two competing versions of the same man sharing one body. My honest read, after going through the specs, the prototype photos and what fellow collectors are saying: it earns its price tag, but only if you plan to display both heads.
What is this edition? | Everything included in the box | Differences from other editions | Pros and cons | What collectors are saying | Our take | FAQs
Quick verdict: the dual head sculpt, both portraits with separate rolling eyeballs, is the real reason to pick this over any earlier Hot Toys Palpatine. The USB-powered LED lightsaber closes the gap with pricier statues, too. Skip it only if you already own an earlier Sidious release and don’t care about displaying the refined Chancellor face.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scale / height | 1/6 scale, approx. 29 cm (11.42 in) |
| Head sculpts | 2, refined Palpatine and deformed Darth Sidious, both with rolling eyes |
| Articulation | Over 30 points on a specialized body |
| Hands included | 12 (7 for Sidious, 5 for Palpatine) |
| Lightsabers | 1 USB-powered LED hilt (red) + 1 standard hilt, 2 blade options |
| Packaging | Window box, 14 x 25 x 39 cm, 1.5 kg shipping weight |
| Expected release | Q3 2026 (Sideshow lists September 2026) |
What is this edition?
Two head sculpts built around one dueling scar
Hot Toys built this release around a single moment: the second Palpatine’s disfigured face is revealed after the duel with Mace Windu. Instead of shipping one head and calling it done, like the studio did with its recent Mister Fantastic sixth scale figure, this box holds a refined Palpatine portrait and a deformed Darth Sidious portrait, and both get separate rolling eyeballs instead of painted pupils. That rolling-eye treatment on both heads is what actually separates this release from most of Hot Toys’ catalog, where usually only the “hero” head gets that upgrade.
At roughly 29 cm tall with more than 30 points of articulation, it sits at true sixth scale next to other MMS-line figures. The cape and outer robe use internal wiring, so a swept pose or a dramatic Force-lightning stance actually holds instead of sagging back to neutral within a day, which is a real complaint on cheaper cloth-robe figures from other lines.
Everything included in the box
Hands, lightsabers and a base built for two identities
This Hot Toys Palpatine Darth Sidious figure ships with twelve interchangeable hands in the box: seven for the Darth Sidious portrait, including two sculpted with Force-lightning effects, two lightsaber-holding hands and three gesture hands, plus five for the Palpatine portrait, two lightsaber-holding, two relaxed and one gesturing. That’s roughly double the hand count Hot Toys shipped with its earlier Return of the Jedi Emperor Palpatine figure, which came with six.
Weapons-wise you get a standard lightsaber hilt and a USB-powered LED hilt that actually lights up red, along with two red blade options, one styled with a motion-blur effect and one static. A dedicated display base with a character nameplate and the Star Wars logo rounds out the set. Worth knowing before you buy: the shipping box measures 14 x 25 x 39 cm and weighs 1.5 kg, so budget real shelf depth if you’re already tight on space from other Hot Toys sixth scale pieces.
Differences from other editions
How it stacks up against Hot Toys’ earlier Palpatine releases
This Hot Toys Palpatine Darth Sidious figure has a direct ancestor. Hot Toys’ previous Emperor Palpatine, based on his Return of the Jedi look (MMS467/468), launched at $220 with a single head sculpt, no rolling eyes on record, a cane accessory and static translucent lightning pieces instead of an LED lightsaber. The $65 jump on this new figure buys you a second head, a genuinely lit lightsaber and close to double the interchangeable hands.
Sideshow’s own listing also shows a separate, simpler Darth Sidious sixth scale figure sold alongside this release at a lower price point, for collectors who just want the hooded, cloaked silhouette without the split-portrait concept. This MMS805 version is aimed squarely at people who want the character’s defining on-screen transformation captured in plastic and fabric, not just another cloaked villain on the shelf.
Pros and cons
Quick summary of where this Hot Toys Palpatine Darth Sidious figure wins and where it falls short:
- Pro: Two fully articulated head sculpts with independent rolling eyes on both
- Pro: USB-powered LED lightsaber instead of a static light-up gimmick
- Pro: Wired cape and robe hold dramatic poses without pins
- Con: $65 more than Hot Toys’ last Palpatine release
- Con: Prototype photos only at review time, production paint can vary
- Con: No cane or Senate-era accessories included this time
What collectors are saying
Over on the Collector Freaks forum thread dedicated to the MMS805, the discussion has already run past five pages since the first prototype photos went up, which says a lot about how much pull this character still has. As with most Hot Toys prequel-era prototypes, the recurring question among longtime members is whether the production head sculpt keeps the sharp cheekbone shading shown in early photos, since that’s historically where these portraits can soften between prototype and final QC. If a Hot Toys prototype-to-production gap has burned you before, it’s worth waiting for in-hand photos before your balance payment is due.
Our Take
If I had to sum this up for another collector: it’s the most complete single-figure take on Palpatine’s fall that Hot Toys has produced, and the dual portrait is what makes $285 feel justified rather than just another price hike. It’s a natural pickup for anyone building a prequel-trilogy Jedi-versus-Sith shelf, and it pairs nicely next to other Star Wars collectibles we’ve covered if your display spans eras rather than one film.
It won’t appeal as much to buyers who just want a static “evil Emperor” pose, since the whole value here is built around swapping heads and hands. It ships through Sideshow in the US, so factor in international shipping if you’re ordering from elsewhere. I’d love to hear from anyone who’s already put down a deposit: which head do you think you’ll display more, and did the price jump change your mind? Drop it in the comments.
FAQs
How tall is the Hot Toys Palpatine Darth Sidious figure?
The figure stands at approximately 29 cm (11.42 inches) tall, built to true 1/6 scale to match other Hot Toys sixth scale collectibles.
Does the Palpatine Darth Sidious figure include two heads?
Yes. It ships with a refined Palpatine head sculpt and a deformed Darth Sidious head sculpt, both featuring separate rolling eyeballs rather than painted pupils.
Is the lightsaber light-up?
One of the two included lightsaber hilts is USB-powered and lights up in red LED. A standard, non-lit hilt is also included along with two blade options.
How much does the Hot Toys MMS805 Palpatine figure cost?
The regular price through Sideshow is $285, which is about $65 more than Hot Toys’ earlier Return of the Jedi Emperor Palpatine figure.
When does the Hot Toys Palpatine Darth Sidious figure ship?
Sideshow lists an expected ship window around Q3 2026 (September), though collectible release dates commonly shift by a few weeks either direction.
Is this the same figure as Hot Toys’ Return of the Jedi Emperor Palpatine?
No. This MMS805 release is based on his Revenge of the Sith appearance and includes two head sculpts, while the earlier Return of the Jedi version (MMS467/468) shipped with a single head sculpt and a cane accessory.
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