Sith apprentice Darth Maul was the face of Lucasfilm’s marketing for 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace. The vengeful Dathormirian lined the shelves of Toys “R” Us and was prominently featured in the studio’s posters and trailers, giving fans the idea that he’d become the trilogy’s Darth Vader. And then he was cut in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi in what was nothing short of one of the cruelest twists George Lucas has ever deployed.
When Lucas’ plan to bring Maul back from what seemed like certain death in Star Wars Episode II-Attack of the Clones didn’t work out, the character found new life in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars Rebels, becoming one of the studio’s most well-developed and tragic characters. With Lucasfilm deciding not to follow up on Solo and with Maul finally put to rest by Obi-Wan Kenobi, it seemed as though the studio had finally put a bow on the fan-favorite character’s story but as revealed at Star Wars Celebration Japan, more Maul is on the way.
Now in production and headed to D+ in 2026, Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord, set after the final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, will follow Maul as he “rises again to lead the underworld factions.”
Sam Witer will return to voice Maul in the new Lucasfilm animated series which looks to make good on The Creator’s original plan to make Maul “the godfather of crime in the universe.” According to StarWars.com, Maul-Shadow Lord will tell the story of Maul as he attempts to “rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire.” In that way, the new series should serve as a prequel to Solo: A Star Wars Story, which revealed Maul as the head of Crimson Dawn.
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