Over 25 years have passed since Obi-Wan Kenobi’s infamous duel with Darth Maul, an encounter that seemingly sealed the fate of the intriguing Sith Lord. Despite George Lucas’s initial decision to kill off the character, Maul has made a remarkable return, thanks in large part to Lucas’s protégé, Dave Filoni. Fans can now look forward to an exciting new development, as Maul is set to take center stage in a significant way.

A new animated series, Maul: Shadow Lord, was recently announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan, and it promises to bring the former Sith Lord back into the spotlight. In a conversation with Katee Sackhoff, the voice of Maul, Sam Witwer, shared some insightful clues about the show’s narrative, including Maul’s perception of the plan devised by his former master, Darth Sidious.

Witwer revealed on The Sackhoff Show that Maul was initially part of the plan to destroy the Republic and the Jedi Order, but he eventually became fearful of Sidious’s intentions and attempted to stop him. “This is a guy who knew that the Empire was coming, and he was part of that,” Witwer explained, adding that Maul was “supposed to be part of the Clone Wars” and work alongside his master to bring about the downfall of their enemies.

However, as the Empire rises to power, Maul begins to question whether this is the universe he had envisioned. Witwer elaborated, “Maul comes from a time of swords and sorcery and magic and knights, and now all of that color is being sucked out of the universe by this mechanized empire. And Maul’s like, ‘Is this right? Is this the universe that we were trying to build?'” This internal conflict will be a central theme in Maul: Shadow Lord, as the character grapples with the consequences of his actions and the true nature of the Empire.

This nuanced exploration of Maul’s character is what makes Maul: Shadow Lord so compelling. As Witwer noted, the show is “truly a show about bad guys versus worse guys,” where the lines between good and evil are blurred. “Our bad guys are still bad guys,” he emphasized, but the series will delve into the complexities of Maul’s personality, revealing flaws and vulnerabilities that make him a more human character.

The development of Maul: Shadow Lord is also a testament to the creative process, as Witwer and Filoni revisit ideas that were initially cut from previous shows. Witwer shared that he had presented several concepts to Filoni during their work on Clone Wars and Rebels, but they were unable to incorporate them into the narrative at the time. Now, these ideas are being reexamined and reworked for the new series.

Witwer recounted, “There were ideas that I had back in Clone Wars that I would present to Dave, or even in Rebels… And Dave would go, ‘We’re going to cut this part out of the script that I have that I like so much because this isn’t Maul’s show.'” However, with Maul: Shadow Lord, these discarded concepts are being dusted off and reimagined, offering a fresh perspective on the character and his place in the Star Wars universe.

The full clip of Witwer’s conversation with Sackhoff is available to watch below. Maul: Shadow Lord is set to premiere in 2026, and fans can expect a thrilling exploration of the former Sith Lord’s journey.

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