Star Wars: Wagner Moura Ready to Return in Live-Action as Maul Character (But Will It Happen?) [Exclusive]

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Wagner Moura, recently nominated for an Academy Award for his work in The Secret Agent, has joined the Star Wars universe. He voices Brander Lawson, a detective in the animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. Lawson works for the Tactical Defense Force, investigating the Sith lord Maul, but prefers to operate independently and stay clear of the Galactic Empire. Moura’s character is a strong addition to the Star Wars world and complements the film noir style of the new Maul series.

In a recent interview with ComicBook, actor Wagner Moura discussed his inspirations for the character he voices and expressed his strong desire to play the role in a live-action adaptation. He admitted it’s probably not going to happen, but said he’d be thrilled if it did, praising the character’s depth and strong writing. Moura’s potential transition wouldn’t be unusual; several characters, including Ahsoka Tano, Bo-Katan, Chopper, Saw Gerrera, Cad Bane, Hera Syndulla, and Sabine Wren, have successfully moved from animated roles to live-action appearances in recent years.

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Wagner Moura explained that he was immediately drawn to the character of Brander Lawson, and felt a personal connection to him. He appreciated that Lawson was portrayed as a genuinely good person – a good cop and a good father. What really resonated with Moura, a father of three boys, was Lawson’s struggle to balance work and family. Moura related to the character’s desire to be present in his children’s lives, while also acknowledging the demands of his own career often require travel and distance. He found the character to be exceptionally well-written and compelling from the start.

Moura admits he’s not a Star Wars expert and relies on his children to explain the background of his character and the world it exists in.

Let me tell you, I’ve watched every single one of these films, and honestly? I needed help! My own sons became my go-to experts. I was constantly asking them things like, ‘Okay, when exactly does this happen in the timeline?’ or ‘Who is this character, remind me?’ It’s a complex universe, and they were invaluable in keeping everything straight for me. They really saved the day!

The actor went on to reveal an influence from one of his former roles that influenced his character

I drew on my experience making the film Elite Squad, which focused on the challenging lives of police officers in Rio de Janeiro. That film really explored the duality of these cops – they had to be incredibly strong, but they were also people with weaknesses and emotions. For me, a character’s vulnerability is what makes them relatable, and that’s something I kept in mind while working on this project. Being familiar with that world of law enforcement definitely influenced my approach.

Even though there are still six episodes left to be released on Disney+, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord has already been picked up for a second season.

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2026-04-16 20:40