Just in case anyone is interested, Colin Trevorrow confirms that the return of The Emperor was JJ's idea when he was hired to write and direct Episode IX and not something that according to KK at the April 2019 Star Wars Celebration, "was planned all along" (which is something that I mentioned earlier in this thread).
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/...ker-last-jedi/
Abrams, who took over co-writing and shooting the movie, went in some significantly different directions, including a return for a classic character. "Bringing back the Emperor was an idea JJ brought to the table when he came on board," Trevorrow says. "It’s honestly something I never considered".
Also, JJ Abrams was on Good Morning America this morning and revealed that the film was completed on Sunday.
Sunday being November 24, 2019, which again, I mentioned earlier in the thread. I'm not sure at what level of "completion" they're claiming but if I hear anything further, I'll be sure to post.