When George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012, he remained a key influence on future Star Wars creators. They strive to capture the magic of Star Wars through familiar themes and storytelling, and some are directly inspired by Lucas’s original ideas. Before the sale, Lucas had developed plans for Star Wars projects that never came to fruition. Fans often wonder how the franchise would be different if those concepts had been made, and it appears the upcoming series Maul – Shadow Lord is drawing on some of them.
While promoting their new show, Shadow Lord (now streaming on Disney+ as of April 6th), the creative team spoke with ComicBook about how discussions between Lucasfilm and Dave Filoni shaped the series. Executive producer Matt Michnovetz, who previously wrote an unreleased story arc for The Clone Wars, said they constantly considered these earlier conversations and are eager to see how fans interpret their influence. The team also aimed to make Shadow Lord enjoyable for all viewers, whether they’re longtime Star Wars fans or newcomers.
Brad Rau, an executive producer on the show, talked about how much star Sam Witwer contributed to the series. He explained that the show explores a more sensitive side of the character Maul, while still maintaining his strength and power, but he didn’t want to reveal too many details.
How George Lucas Inspired Maul – Shadow Lord
Michnovetz didn’t specify exactly which ideas from George Lucas made it into the Shadow Lord series, but we can reasonably assume some connections to Lucas’ plans for the sequel trilogy. Lucas originally intended Darth Maul to be the primary villain of those sequels, portraying him as a powerful crime boss fighting against Leia and the New Republic. While Shadow Lord, set during the Empire’s rule, isn’t a direct copy of that idea, it shares similar core elements. In the series, Maul seeks to overthrow the Empire as an act of revenge against Palpatine.
Exploring the criminal side of the Star Wars universe is a compelling idea. While we’ve always seen glimpses of the galactic underworld, starting with A New Hope, it hasn’t usually been the main focus of a film or show. Lucas’ planned sequel trilogy would have brought this popular element to the forefront, giving us a deeper look at the galaxy’s criminal networks. It also would have addressed a weakness of the prequel trilogy: the limited role of Darth Maul. Although The Clone Wars and Rebels helped develop his character, he never got another significant on-screen appearance, aside from a brief cameo in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
The character of Devon Izara also draws inspiration from George Lucas’s plans for the sequel trilogy. Lucas originally intended for Darth Maul to have a Twi’lek apprentice named Darth Talon. It’s likely no accident that Devon is a Force-sensitive Twi’lek who encounters Maul, hoping he might help her fight the Empire. While she isn’t a direct copy of Lucas’s idea, the connection is obvious. The creative team behind Maul – Shadow Lord cleverly uses these elements to connect the story to Lucas’s original vision, while also adapting it to fit the current Star Wars timeline.
In some respects, Shadow Lord could actually build on George Lucas’ original plans for the sequel trilogy. Because Darth Maul is the central character, this project allows a detailed exploration of his personality and motivations – something that wasn’t possible when he was simply a villain opposing Leia. The creative team can really delve into his inner conflicts as he tries to dominate the criminal underworld. Sam Witwer’s work highlighting Maul’s weaknesses should be key to the story, and it will be fascinating to see how Shadow Lord further develops this already compelling character.
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2026-04-02 21:43