13 Years Later, Darth Maul Just Totally Defeated the Mandalorians for the Second Time in Star Wars

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Darth Maul is returning to the screen! Despite being defeated and even cut in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi, this former Sith Lord, once ruler of Mandalore and a powerful crime boss, has somehow survived. His story continues in a new animated series from Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. Set at least a year after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, the show follows Maul as he tries to rebuild his criminal organization on the planet Janix and continues to plot revenge against his enemies.

The initial trailer for Maul – Shadow Lord is out, and it looks fantastic! This isn’t surprising, considering the character has been well-developed in animated series like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. This new trailer suggests the same high quality of storytelling will continue, and it might even be better than before.

The show’s new animation style is truly remarkable. It’s incredibly artistic, created with visible brushstrokes filmed to resemble an oil painting – giving it a beautiful, immersive quality. Considering the already high standards of the franchise, it’s impressive that Maul looks better than ever, and that’s especially important for where the story is headed.

Maul – Shadow Lord Just Showed How To Market A New Star Wars Release

Thirteen years ago, in an episode of The Clone Wars called “Shades of Reason” (first released January 26, 2013), Maul famously conquered Mandalore and won the Darksaber by defeating Pre Viszla. Now, he’s facing a new Mandalorian challenge in the upcoming The Mandalorian & Grogu movie, which will be the first Star Wars film released since 2019 and is scheduled for 2026.

Despite the potential for excitement, Lucasfilm hasn’t successfully promoted the new movie. The trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu didn’t generate much anticipation, and actually disappointed many viewers. Fans were divided, criticizing the lack of a compelling storyline and feeling the footage resembled just another TV episode – and looked like it was made for streaming rather than a cinematic experience.

While some criticism might be a bit harsh – it looks decent, but isn’t particularly exciting either way – Shadow Lord delivers on what the initial teaser didn’t. It has a simpler task, though: it’s aimed at dedicated fans, not a general audience.

Despite everything, there’s a lot to be excited about. The show cleverly builds on Maul’s story from The Clone Wars and Rebels, with even hints from Solo. It introduces a potential new apprentice – possibly Darth Talon – brings back the Inquisitors, and explores intriguing new planets that seem like the kind of stories George Lucas had in mind for his cancelled Star Wars: Underworld series. It strikes a great balance between familiar elements and fresh ideas, something the recent Mando movie didn’t quite achieve.

2026 promises to be a pivotal year for Star Wars and Lucasfilm. With Lynwen Brennan and Dave Filoni stepping into leadership roles alongside Kathleen Kennedy, the direction of the franchise may evolve. Several projects face uncertainty: will The Mandalorian & Grogu revitalize Star Wars films? What’s next for the live-action TV series after the upcoming second season of Ahsoka? However, the animated side appears secure, with exciting projects like Maul – Shadow Lord and a Visions spin-off connected to “The Ninth Jedi” already in development.

I’m so excited! Disney+ is finally giving us Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord on April 6th, 2026. And if that wasn’t enough, The Mandalorian & Grogu is coming to theaters on May 22nd, 2026! It’s going to be an amazing year for Star Wars fans like me.

Looking forward to Maul – Shadow Lord? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-22 21:44