Report: Lucasfilm Wants This Upcoming Star Wars Disney+ Show To Be the ‘Best Thing’ They’ve Ever Done

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The lead actor in the new Disney+ series, Maul – Shadow Lord, recently shared that the team is working incredibly hard to make it one of the best Star Wars stories ever told. There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the show, and many fans already see it as a major Star Wars project. The series will focus on a popular character during a well-known era, continuing the storyline developed in The Clone Wars, which is widely considered a top Star Wars series.

In the latest issue of Star Wars Insider magazine (issue #236, which will be the final one), Sam Witwer – the actor playing Maul in the new Disney+ show – discussed the upcoming series. He explained that the show, building on his portrayal in Maul – Shadow Lord, will be unlike anything Star Wars fans have seen before. The creative team was encouraged to make it more ambitious and expansive than previous projects.

According to Witwer, creating Maul – Shadow Lord was their most challenging project yet. He also shared that the entire team worked incredibly hard to make it a truly remarkable experience.

Director Brad Rau and writer Matt Michnovetz are spearheading the creative vision for the new show. Actor Sam Witwer believes the series, Maul – Shadow Lord, will be their most significant achievement, suggesting it will be a groundbreaking story and potentially the best work either of them has ever done.

Dave Filoni’s longtime collaborator, Brad Rau, brings extensive Star Wars experience to The Acolyte. He previously oversaw The Bad Batch and Forces of Destiny, and directed episodes of both Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: Resistance. Rau has been a key creative force behind several major animated Star Wars projects.

Michnovetz has writing credits on popular Star Wars shows like Rebels, The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, Tales of the Empire, and Tales of the Underworld. Similar to Rau, he’s proven he can contribute to hit projects. So, when Witwer calls the new series his potential masterpiece, it suggests it could be something exceptional.

Witwer also mentioned Tracy Cannobbio, a publicist at Lucasfilm, as being involved with the character from the very start. He explained that her feedback was quickly and readily incorporated by the creative team; if she offered a suggestion or observation, the team would immediately put it into practice.

She’s been involved with this character from the start. When she offers feedback or insights, the team quickly puts them into action. Her input really helped me feel confident about the direction we took with ‘Maul’.

Witwer also discussed the contributions of other people involved in creating Maul – Shadow Lord. He highlighted Athena Portillo, a key producer, praising her dedication and commitment to ensuring the project’s success – she wouldn’t let it fail.

Witwer notes that Portillo had a knack for fixing issues proactively – addressing them before anyone was even aware of them.

Some producers are good, but Athena Portillo was exceptional. She was deeply committed to quality and went above and beyond to ensure our success. She planned ahead with backup plans and gave us the breathing room to try new things before deadlines. While she finalized later episodes quickly, she wisely kept earlier ones flexible so we could improve them as we learned. She’s a proactive leader who anticipates and solves problems before they even become issues.

The show’s main actor also mentioned Keith Kellogg, Joel Aron, and David Collins, collaborators he’s known and worked with for 18 years.

Let me tell you, visually, this season is a huge step up. Keith Kellogg’s animation work, combined with Joel Aron’s lighting, really captures the feeling of how Maul perceives the galaxy – it’s gritty, dangerous, and just…extreme. But it’s not just the visuals. The sound design, handled by David Collins – a guy I’ve collaborated with for almost two decades now – is completely groundbreaking for Star Wars. It’s less like a typical TV show and more like something you’d hear in a strange, atmospheric feature film, almost reminiscent of ‘THX 1138.’ Honestly, it’s a completely new auditory experience for the franchise.

I recently spoke with Witwer, and he shared something really interesting about the direction of things at Lucasfilm. Apparently, Dave Filoni – now heading up the whole company – gave everyone a clear message: improve on everything, and don’t be afraid to really take risks and push boundaries. It sounds like they’re being encouraged to go above and beyond with their storytelling.

The actor shared that they developed a storyline that wasn’t originally written in the script, and they consider the result to be one of their best moments playing the character.

Dave Filoni challenged us to elevate every aspect of the show – the performances, writing, story, visuals, and sound. He encouraged us to really take risks. We developed a storyline that wasn’t originally planned, and it became one of our most rewarding scenes with this character – it’s a moving, unusual, and distinctly Star Wars moment.

Witwer emphasized that the creators of Maul – Shadow Lord were incredibly innovative, constantly challenging expectations and attempting things fans wouldn’t have predicted.

It absolutely was! Everyone involved has been incredibly innovative. We experimented with all sorts of techniques – for example, I filmed myself acting out difficult, emotional scenes so the animators could study my facial expressions and eye movements.

The main actor explained they used subtle filming techniques that viewers likely won’t notice when the show comes out. Despite this, he’s optimistic about the show’s success, saying everyone involved was determined to make it the best work of their careers.

We employed classic photography techniques that are nearly invisible on screen, making everything appear hand-painted. We tackled challenges the way they did at Industrial Light & Magic years ago. I’ve collaborated with this team for nearly twenty years, and we have complete trust in each other. Everyone’s ideas are valued, and we all shared a goal: to create something truly exceptional.

Will Maul – Shadow Lord Hit Its Mark?

According to Sam Witwer, Disney and Lucasfilm are very excited about Maul – Shadow Lord. This project is significant because it takes place between the popular animated series The Clone Wars and Rebels.

The initial trailer for Shadow Lord is now available. The story looks promising, and it’s exciting because the show will feature a brand new animation style never before seen in the Star Wars universe.

Lucasfilm is taking a significant risk with its new show, Shadow Lord, hoping it will be a huge hit. While the show has the potential to be very successful, ambitious projects don’t always succeed, and sometimes trying too hard can lead to failure.

The success of Shadow Lord hinges on telling a captivating story that smoothly connects the events of The Clone Wars and Rebels. While it’s commendable that the creators are exploring new animation techniques and taking risks, a strong narrative is ultimately what will make the show truly stand out.

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2026-04-02 15:37