Before Disney acquired the Star Wars franchise from George Lucas, the Lucasfilm founder had plans to continue the sequel trilogy, which included resurrecting Darth Maul and making him the primary villain alongside a female Sith apprentice.
While his idea was ultimately scrapped, it’s now set to come to fruition in the upcoming animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, which will mark the return of the iconic Sith.
Now considered one of the most ambitious Star Wars projects to date, not to mention highly anticipated following the debut of its first look at the recent San Diego Comic-Con, it’s seen as a potential game changer that could redeem the franchise after the failure of Star Wars: The Acolyte.
How Can Darth Maul Return to the Star Wars Universe?
Maul – Shadow Lord was first announced during the Lucasfilm Animation panel at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan, last April.
George Lucas originally planned to bring Darth Maul back in his envisioned sequel trilogy as the major antagonist, taking over the criminal underworld with the help of a female Twi’lek apprentice named Darth Talon.
For starters, Maul was resurrected by his brother, Savage Opress, using Nightsister magic on Dathomir during Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4 after being cut in half in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.
Although Lucas never had the chance to realize this storyline after Disney acquired the franchise, that vision will now be brought to life in Maul – Shadow Lord.
Created by Lucas’ longtime collaborator Dave Filoni, the new animated series will follow Maul’s rise as the leader of the galaxy’s underworld factions—emerging as the “Godfather” of galactic crime and exploiting the power vacuum left by the fall of the Empire.
Set after the events of The Clone Wars, the series will feature the return of Sam Witwer, who has voiced the iconic Sith across multiple Star Wars projects.
In addition to showcasing Maul in his most menacing form yet, the series will officially introduce Darth Talon into Star Wars canon, marking her small-screen debut.
How Can Maul – Shadow Lord Redeem the Star Wars Franchise After The Acolyte?
In addition to being part of Lucas’ original vision, Maul – Shadow Lord also has the opportunity to redeem the franchise after the backlash surrounding The Acolyte.
The series was criticized by both fans and critics for being “too woke,” deviating from established Star Wars lore, and its controversial depiction of the Jedi Order and the Force.
It was heavily review-bombed, and matters worsened when members of the cast and crew became targets of personal attacks from the toxic fandom. Unsurprisingly, the show was canceled after just one season.
The Acolyte follows the story of a former Jedi, Osha (Amandla Stenberg), who joins the Sith and becomes the apprentice of the mysterious Qimir (Manny Jacinto).
Its storyline added complexity by introducing a female Sith apprentice with a nuanced relationship to the Force. As a result, many viewers felt it lacked cohesion or respect for established canon.
By contrast, Maul – Shadow Lord is expected to feature a truly compelling female Sith in Darth Talon, a character who could do justice to the concept of a female dark side apprentice.
Already a fan-favorite from the Star Wars Legends continuity, Talon’s canon debut could easily outshine The Acolyte's twin protagonists, Osha and Mae.
Maul – Shadow Lord is slated for release on Disney+ in 2026.
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