Darth Maul’s Hidden Crisis: Does He Regret His Life?

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Beyond the realm of the Star Wars saga, Sam Witwer might not be instantly recognizable to many households, but he is highly cherished at Star Wars Celebration events – and poised to preserve this adoration with his forthcoming series Maul: Shadow Lord. If you’ve followed Star Wars animation, there’s a good chance you’ve listened to Witwer’s voice, as the actor has contributed his skills to Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Resistance, and Star Wars: Rebels, among others. He’s also showcased his abilities in video games such as Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, where he portrayed the player character Galen Marek, more commonly known as Starkiller.

In the Star Wars saga, Sam Witwer’s standout or most influential portrayal is undeniably that of Darth Maul across various animated series. The character of Darth Maul was richly developed through Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels, with Witwer playing a crucial role in bringing many of Maul’s most memorable scenes to fruition. In the upcoming Maul: Shadow Lord, Witwer will portray Maul post-Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, during a period when his character evolves into the crime lord viewers encountered in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

At Star Wars Celebration, Ash Crossan of ScreenRant interviewed Sam Witwer about his work on “Maul: Shadow Legends” and his broader impact on the Star Wars universe. During their chat, Witwer shared insights into Maul’s mental state in the upcoming series and how his past actions involving Emperor Palpatine have returned to torment him. Here are some key points from their conversation; stay tuned to ScreenRant for further updates on Star Wars and Star Wars Celebration events.

At Star Wars Celebration, Sam Witwer was interviewed by Ash Crossan of ScreenRant about his role in “Maul: Shadow Legends” and his overall contributions to the Star Wars universe. In their discussion, Witwer revealed Maul’s emotional state in the upcoming series and how his past actions affecting Emperor Palpatine have come back to trouble him. Check out some key takeaways from the conversation below; keep an eye on ScreenRant for more Star Wars and Star Wars Celebration news.

Maul: Shadow Lord Continues 18 Years Of Collaboration Between Sam Witwer & Lucasfilm

Witwer Has Worked With The Shadow Lord Team For 16 Years

For a year prior to his appearance at Star Wars Celebration, Sam Witwer’s professional relationship with the character known as Maul: Shadow Lord had been established. However, Witwer reminisced that he had actually begun working on The Force Unleashed about 17 or 18 years ago. Interestingly, the team behind Maul: Shadow Lord is composed of individuals whom Witwer has collaborated with since his involvement in Star Wars: The Clone Wars 16 years back. In essence, these colleagues have been a part of Witwer’s life for quite some time, as he put it, “I’ve been around these folks forever,” and they are truly “old friends.

Witwer enthusiastically praised the creative team, starting with Matt Michnovetz, the lead writer for Star Wars: The Clone Wars: “He’s our head writer and he’s coming up with all this amazing content. It makes you feel secure knowing you’re in good hands, and then when you read the scripts, it’s like ‘Wow, thank you Matt for being here.’ Next up is Brad Rau, who Witwer described as “in charge of everything as our director and Dave Filoni’s apprentice on-set. Brad is incredibly talented; he’s one of the best filmmakers I’ve ever worked with.

David Collins, who was the sound designer for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and voiced the droid PROXY, will also be part of Maul: Shadow Lord, as stated by Witwer: “He’s handling the lead sound for Shadow Lord, and he might even voice a character – you never know. There’s an interesting connection between The Force Unleashed and this project in that sense. David is contributing in ways we didn’t anticipate.

Witwer expressed his enthusiasm for acknowledging the talent behind “Maul: Shadow Legends,” stating, “For instance, Steward Lee is doing an exceptional job. Joel Aron imbues each frame with a painterly darkness and rich hues of reds, purples, and shadows. His lighting techniques are simply breathtaking. He’s challenging animation boundaries more than ever before. And then there’s our commander, Athena Portillo, whom I’ve known for a long time. It’s fantastic to have a producer who won’t let us fall short.

However, there were instances where the Maul: Shadow Lord crew needed to call upon their top talent, as stated by the team member: “Naturally, with him overseeing everything and often directly involved in the editorial process, doing some truly out-there things, is our guiding force, Dave Filoni, who masterminded this entire show. Therefore, I feel well-supported, and they’ve always been a collaborative team.

Playing Maul for over a decade meant that Witwer had a greater role than ever before in a Lucasfilm project. As he explained, “This time it was unique because I was told, ‘You’ve been portraying this character for 15 years. Now, you need to be more involved in the entire production process.’ So, I’ve never been as immersed in a Lucasfilm production as I am now. It’s a constant stream of emails, phone calls, meetings, and recordings, and it’s incredibly exciting.

Sam Witwer Teases Maul’s Existential Crisis In Shadow Lord

“How Does He Feel About His Whole Life?”

In the story “Maul: Shadow Lord,” which unfolds after the incidents depicted in “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith,” viewers can expect a new incarnation of the character, significantly different from the one they encountered in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” According to Witwer, “Maul is an adept Force user, steeped in ancient lore and magic.” He further explains that Maul, having emerged from an era of knights, enchantment, and dragons, now finds himself in a world dominated by the Empire, which he perceives as draining the galaxy of its magic, vitality, and vibrancy.

Witwer explained that Maul had anticipated the rise of the Empire and had collaborated with Palpatine for some time. However, as he now witnesses it in full force, what are his feelings towards this new world where his arch-enemies, the Jedi Knights, no longer exist? How does he view the current state of the Jedi? What is his perspective on his entire life given these circumstances? Essentially, these questions form the basis of our series.

Regarding Maul’s association with the Crimson Dawn, as shown in “Solo: A Star Wars Story”, Witwer commented: “Crimson Dawn… Could they appear? I don’t know. We aren’t sure.

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2025-04-22 05:58