A long time ago in a galaxy not so far away, Darth Maul was dismissed too quickly — cut down in The Phantom Menace, seemingly doomed to be a one-and-done villain. Now, nearly three decades after his blood-red visage first ignited imaginations, Maul is stepping out of the shadows with Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, a new animated series set to premiere on Disney+ this April.
Announced less than a year ago at Star Wars Celebration Japan, Maul – Shadow Lord marks Lucasfilm Animation’s first fully original series since The Bad Batch and is helmed by familiar names in the galaxy far, far away: Dave Filoni and Matt Michnovetz. Set during the early years of the Empire, the show follows Maul as he attempts to rebuild his criminal empire in the aftermath of The Clone Wars, while staying one step ahead of Palpatine’s forces and grooming a new apprentice. Sam Witwer returns once more to voice Maul, continuing a portrayal that has spanned over a decade.
The trailer also introduces Devon Izara, a Twi’lek whose journey into the Dark Side evokes fan comparisons to Darth Talon, a character once confined to the now-defunct Legends continuity. Voiced by Gideon Adlon, Izara also represents a broader shift in how Twi’lek characters are handled in modern canon. Gone is the hyper-sexualised design of the comics and in its place stands a fighter carved from trauma and trained in darkness.
The official synopsis reads: “Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord picks up after the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, for a pulpy adventure that finds Maul plotting to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire. There, he crosses paths with a disillusioned young Jedi Padawan who may just be the apprentice he is seeking to aid him in his relentless pursuit for revenge.”
Visually, Shadow Lord leans into a gritty aesthetic that blends the painterly stylisation of Clone Wars with textured hand-drawn elements, giving the underworld of Janix, the new neon-drenched planet featured in the series, a noir-drenched atmosphere that’s both raw and theatrical. It’s here where Maul stages his next uprising, evading Imperial Inquisitors like Marrok, and crossing paths with rogues, bounty hunters, and a galaxy that thinks it has already buried him twice over.
Lucasfilm has confirmed that the ten-episode series will air two episodes per week starting 6 April 2026, leading up to a finale on May the 4th.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
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