Credit: LucasfilmThe Clone Wars remains one of the most beloved entries in the entire Star Wars saga. The long-running animated series started in 2008, following the theatrical film of the same name released that year. It follows characters both familiar and new during the three-year gap between the prequel trilogy’s Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005).
Among the series’ most notable characters is Maul (formerly Darth Maul), the disgraced Sith Lord introduced in George Lucas’ prequel trilogy-opener The Phantom Menace (1999), in which he’s seemingly killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) during a lightsaber duel. In The Clone Wars, Maul returned as a twisted figure hellbent on vengeance against Kenobi.
Maul’s Main Star Wars Appearances
He returned in the animated follow-up Rebels (2014), with Sam Witwer reprising his role. Witwer also voiced Maul during a brief cameo in the spinoff film Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), although Ray Park physically performed the character, having done so in The Phantom Menace (in which he was voiced by Peter Serafinowicz).
However, other than tie-in media such as novels and comic books, Maul has yet to make another full return to Star Wars. In fact, he hasn’t been seen on the screen since his appearance in Solo, which places him at a later point along the franchise’s timeline, long after Clone Wars and Rebels, when he’s involved with the crime syndicate Crimson Dawn.
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While The Clone Wars has been followed up by other animated shows of the same style such as The Bad Batch and the Tales Of anthology series, Maul has yet to make a return. But that’s set to change later this year with the brand-new animated series Maul – Shadow Lord.
Announced by none other than Witwer himself on stage at Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Tokyo, Shadow Lord takes place “after the Clone Wars” to find Maul plotting “to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire,” according to StarWars.com.
Check out the official teaser below, where Maul can be seen in silhouette form:
Maul: Shadow Lord (2026)#StarWarsCelebrationJapan #SWCJ pic.twitter.com/423nKYQNqT
— Jorge Carrón (@_jcarron) April 18, 2025
While the series will be told using mostly the same style as The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, and Tales Of, it will also evolve that design into a darker territory to reflect Maul’s bleak perspective. According to Witwer, the new series’ visual style is still rooted in the world of The Clone Wars but is at the same time “more edgy and jagged and dangerous”. He told CinemaBlend last year that Maul – Shadow Lord will embrace “a little bit more extreme.”
Recently, Lucasfilm confirmed that style, stating via StarWars.com that the new series, which “explores Maul’s quest for power in the gritty and merciless underworld following the aftermath of The Clone Wars and Order 66″ will feature “a new style of animation.”
Now, an image of Maul is doing the rounds, which is reportedly from merchandise for the series (shared by Star Wars Holocron, via Deadline). This one gives us a proper look at Maul:
New look at Maul in the upcoming animated series MAUL – SHADOW LORD pic.twitter.com/RLBePd5hcJ
— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) January 19, 2026
The animation style certainly resembles that of its predecessors; however, it does indeed look edgier and darker. But with that said, as suggested in the report, it looks like this is merchandise artwork, possibly from an action figure, so it’s best taken with a pinch of salt.
Shadow Lord will premiere on Disney+ later this year.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord Prequel
Ahead of the Disney+ series, Marvel Comics will release a story in March titled “Shadow of Maul”, a five-issue prequel series by Benjamin Percy and illustrated by Madibek Musabekov.
Maul – Shadow Lord isn’t the only new Star Wars animated series coming to Disney+ in 2026. Star Wars: Visions Presents is also set to premiere, with the first installment being The Ninth Jedi, a full series based on the Volume 1 episode of the same name. In live action, there’s Ahsoka Season 2, and in film, The Mandalorian & Grogu hits theaters this May.
Are you excited about these new stories centered on Maul? Share your thoughts with us in the comments down below!