Maul’s Dark Past

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In the upcoming Star Wars animated series, it’s Darth Maul, a formidable Sith Lord from the Star Wars universe, who takes center stage. Maul first appeared in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy and quickly won over fans with his distinctive appearance – a red-skinned face, horns, and dual-bladed red lightsaber. His popularity was such that he was brought back to life after seemingly meeting his end in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Since then, Maul has made recurring appearances in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Now, the Star Wars franchise delves into an uncharted chapter of Darth Maul’s past.

The animated series titled “Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord” was officially unveiled during the 20th anniversary panel of Lucasfilm Animation at Star Wars Celebration Japan. Audience members were treated to a preview trailer for “Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord“, which suggested that the story unfolds between “The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels“. The character Maul is set to train a new Padawan apprentice, inspired by a vision that she could aid him in his quest for vengeance against those who have wronged him. Voice actor Sam Witwer, who has voiced Maul in both “The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels“, was present at Star Wars Celebration Japan for the announcement, and he will reprise his voice role in “Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord“.

A specific fight scene is sure to pique the interest of “Star Wars” enthusiasts. This sequence showed Maul battling against the former Inquisitor Marrok, who exclaimed, “It’s true then. You’re still alive.” The show is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ in 2026.

The title clearly stated it was the 20th anniversary of Lucasfilm Animation. A trailer unveiled at Star Wars Celebration Japan takes us back to George Lucas founding Lucasfilm Animation in 2005, with its debut series being “Star Wars: The Clone Wars“. Dave Filoni, the Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm, shares insights, quoting Jedi Master Yoda who said, “George Lucas often emphasized, ‘Dare to be great.’ This aligns perfectly with Yoda’s wisdom, ‘Do or do not. There is no try.’

Different scenes from ‘The Clone Wars’ are presented, including its resurgence for a final season in 2019. Season 7 traced Ahsoka Tano’s battles during the Siege of Mandalore, culminating in Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader in ‘Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith’. The Lucasfilm Animation crew has expanded to include teams based overseas in Singapore, Tokyo, and Taipei.

Characters such as Ahsoka, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Cad Bane, and Bo-Katan Kryze, who were initially seen in animated shows like Ahsoka, have moved from being animated characters to live-action series. The rich tradition of Star Wars animation lives on with the series “Maul – Shadow Lord,” “Young Jedi Adventures,” “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi,” “Star Wars: Visions,” and the recently concluded “Bad Batch.

In relation to real-life adaptations, it was made known at Star Wars Celebration Japan that Ryan Gosling’s upcoming Star Wars film has been titled “Star Wars: Starfighter”. This movie, directed by Shawn Levy, will feature Gosling as the main character. The story of “Star Wars: Starfighter” takes place approximately five years following the events in “The Rise of Skywalker”. Production for this standalone film is set to commence this fall.

During the panel, Gosling stepped up to discuss the project, remarking that the script is “exceptionally well-written,” appreciating its compelling storyline and unique characters. He further mentioned that the narrative brims with “emotion and excitement” and seems thrilled about collaborating with Levy. The audience was privy to a sneak peek into Gosling’s long-standing affection for Star Wars; his mother had submitted a photograph of his Star Wars bedsheets from when he was just 5 years old. With a chuckle, Gosling admitted that he must have been fantasizing about Star Wars even before he actually watched the movies.

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2025-04-18 15:09