Will Cal Kestis Join Darth Maul in ‘Maul – Shadow Lord’?

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2025’s Star Wars Celebration has concluded, leaving behind a flurry of significant updates. Notably, Ryan Gosling is making his way into a distant galaxy for the upcoming film “Star Wars: Starfighter,” and Hayden Christensen is gearing up to reprise his role in “Star Wars: Ahsoka” Season 2. However, one announcement that might have slipped under some radars is the unveiling of the animated series “Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord.” This new series offers fans another opportunity to delve into the intriguing life of one of Star Wars’ most cherished antagonists. As with other animated Star Wars series, we can expect a host of thrilling cameos that will surely challenge our minds.

Given that Shadow Lord will delve into Maul’s criminal past, it’s likely that characters like Dryden Vos, who are active in the underworld, will be involved. However, another character roaming the galaxy could potentially encounter the ex-Sith Lord: Cal Kestis.

Cal Kestis Could Be Part of Maul’s Plans in Shadow Lord

As a dedicated Star Wars fan, I’m thrilled to share that the higher-ups at Lucasfilm have spilled the beans about “Maul – Shadow Lord” being set a year after Order 66, which also signifies the end of the beloved “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” animated series. In this tumultuous time when the clones turned against Ahsoka Tano, Maul seized the opportunity to flee from the Republic ship amidst the chaos. This escape paved the way for him to establish his thriving criminal empire during the timeline of “Solo: A Star Wars Story”. Yet, being a Sith at heart, Maul won’t abandon his ambition to mentor a new apprentice, a tale that will unfold in his upcoming solo series.

Throughout the Star Wars saga, Maul has a pattern of attempting to enlist young individuals into his cause. This can be seen with Ahsoka in The Clone Wars, Ezra in Star Wars Rebels, and even Qi’ra in Solo. Interestingly, Cal Kestis from the Star Wars Jedi games, who tragically lost his master during Order 66, finds himself in a precarious position during Shadow of Mordor’s timeline, making Maul’s proposition potentially appealing to him.

After the demise of his master and the downfall of the Jedi Order, Cal seeks refuge on the planet Bracca, earning a simple living as a rigger while concealing his past as a Jedi. However, this secret would be difficult to maintain around Maul, given his powerful connection to the Dark Side which enables him to detect Force users. If Maul were to visit Bracca for some business matter, he might find it hard to overlook Cal’s presence and could possibly lure him towards the Dark Side.

The problem lies with that concept since Cal never discusses Maul in the “Star Wars Jedi” games. In fact, according to gamers’ understanding, he doesn’t regain his Force skills until 14 BBY when the Jedi hunters appear on Bracca. However, there are numerous significant characters from the Star Wars universe that could engage with Maul in “Shadow Lord“.

Which Major Star Wars Characters Could Show Up in Maul – Shadow Lord?

In essence, the storyline of ‘Solo’ suggests that Maul has been keeping a low profile for quite some time, hiding his involvement with Crimson Dawn. Despite his tendency to act impulsively, it’s plausible he might be seeking revenge against Palpatine and Darth Vader. This stems from his desire in ‘The Clone Wars’ to eliminate Anakin Skywalker before he could aid Palpatine in achieving full control over the galaxy. With just a year elapsing since ‘Shadow Lord’, it’s reasonable to assume that Maul’s past master could be on his mind.

It’s likely that Maul’s criminal activities could catch the notice of powerful groups such as the Hutts and Pyke Syndicate. Historically, they tend to use bounty hunters for their tasks, so Maul might find himself battling figures like Boba Fett and Cad Bane if he intends to expand his influence. Fortunately, he won’t have to concern himself with a 14-year-old named Cal Kestis disturbing his operations.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord arrives on Disney+ in 2026.

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2025-04-27 19:40