Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Does this fan theory about the soundtrack reveal Supreme Leader Snoke's identity?

'...he could even keep the ones he loved from dying'

Supreme Leader Snoke in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Lucasfilm / Disney)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens has managed to completely reinvigorate the sci-fi franchise, undoing many of the wrongs done by the prequels and breaking box-office records in the process.

While, for the most part, the film does ignore Episodes I, II and III, there are a few references throughout, one of which may hold the key to identifying who Supreme Leader Snoke really is. *Spoilers ahead*

Upon meeting Snoke, the giant Sith Lord and master of Kylo Ren, played by Andy Serkis in a motion capture suit, his theme - written by composer John Williams - plays in the background.

Many fans believe this isn’t the first time we’ve heard this theme - or at least a very similar sounding one - in a Star Wars film.

Speculators believe that the song is remarkably similar to the arrangement played in the prequels when Palpatine discusses the tale of Darth Plagueis with Anakin Skywalker - a major scene in Revenge of the Sith.

For those who haven’t perhaps seen that film recently, Darth Plagueis was Palpatine’s Sith master and had the power to “use the force to influence the midi-chlorians to create life… he could even keep the ones he loved from dying.”

In other words, he had the power to manipulate the Force in order to sustain life, but he was eventually killed in his sleep by his treacherous apprentice.

The theory thus follows that Palpatine failed to kill Plagueis. Instead, he managed to come back as the newly named Snoke, and that is why John Williams made their themes so similar.

Could they really be the same character though? Serkis has said on numerous occasions Snoke is a brand new villain to the Star Wars universe, and if this theory is true, would the composer be told Snoke was Plagueis when there’s such tight control over spoilers?

One fan theory this would line-up with is that Plagueis actually created Anakin Skywalker. Why? Because it would explain his fascination with Kylo Ren, who would theoretically be his Great Grandson. However, with Disney basically avoiding all links to the prequels, this seems increasingly unlikely.

Other fan theories - not to do with Snoke - have pointed out how Luke and Anakin’s lightsaber is much like Excalibur in that it points to Rey, while another puts a huge twist on Kylo Ren’s allegiance to the New Order.