OBI-WAN KENOBI Director Deborah Chow Explains Why The Show Brings Back Darth Vader Instead Of Maul

OBI-WAN KENOBI Director Deborah Chow Explains Why The Show Brings Back Darth Vader Instead Of Maul

While it's been reported that an earlier version of Obi-Wan Kenobi would have seen Maul return to plague the Jedi Master, director Deborah Chow has explained why the big bad had to be Darth Vader instead.

News
By JoshWilding - May 14, 2022 08:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Obi-Wan Kenobi
Source: SFFGazette.com

In Star Wars Rebels, we followed Darth Maul as he finally succeeded in tracking down "Ben" Kenobi on Tatooine. Realising that Anakin Skywalker's son was also on the planet, he left the former Jedi Master with no other choice but to engage him in battle and was struck down by the hero in the process. It was a brief battle, of course, but one that felt like the right choice to end this long-running rivalry.

That's where Maul's story ended, but it was recently reported that early plans for Disney+'s Obi-Wan Kenobi called for the former Sith to pursue "Ben" and a young Luke through the Galaxy. The idea was supposedly scrapped due to concerns it was too similar to The Mandalorian, though we're sure concerns about continuity and making sure that reunion made sense were also a driving factor. 

Talking to Total Film (via SFFGazette.com), Obi-Wan Kenobi director Deborah Chow explained why the spotlight had to be put on Darth Vader rather than Maul. "With a lot of the legacy aspects, the decision to bring Vader into it was not made lightly," she says. "We’re 10 years after Revenge Of The Sith. Where is Obi-Wan’s starting place? What has been important to him in his life?"

"Anakin and Vader are a huge and very profound part of his life. We ended up feeling that he made sense in telling this story," the filmmaker continued. "And Vader casts such a dark shadow in this, that to have Maul as well, it might be a little bit much."

We can't help but hope that rumours of Ray Park training for a return as this character will result in a surprise cameo, and the mind really does boggle at what it would look like to see Obi-Wan vs. Vader vs. Maul at some point in the series. Sadly, that feels like wishful thinking, so don't get your hopes up.

As for Maul, it's unclear whether we'll see him in live-action again. Solo: A Star Wars Story certainly set the stage for that to happen, but there's been no indication it's currently in the works. However, there has to be a chance we could see him appear in upcoming shows like Andor or Lando.

Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres with its first two episodes on Disney+ on May 27. 

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CaptainDC
CaptainDC - 5/14/2022, 8:03 PM
I mean this is a given….

Still, would nice to see Maul make an appearance. At this point E1 is a cult fan favorite. Just bring the guy back for something.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 5/15/2022, 6:41 AM
@CaptainDC - The end of Kenobi and Maul's story was already shown in Rebels. There's no need to add more to that, even though it takes place after this show. They should leave that alone. I want to see Maul again as much as anyone, but he can be used in any number of other projects. No need to shoe-horn him into this and add unnecessary story to something that was already wrapped up.
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 5/15/2022, 10:20 AM
@CorndogBurglar - Yeah especially with Dave Filoni running the D+ shows I doubt he wants to write out his own animated series Rebels out of continuity. I think we will see "Darth Maul's race" again on screen even if its not in obi-wan but not the actual character.

I agree, shoehorn cameos always feel unnecessary.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 5/15/2022, 11:22 AM
@mastakilla39 - I could be wrong but I believe I did see one of Darth Maul's race (Zabrak) in one of the Kenobi trailers.
CaptainDC
CaptainDC - 5/16/2022, 2:09 PM
@CorndogBurglar - I mean we already brought back most of the OG characters in the underwhelming new trilogy. Understanding Rebel's covers this ground, I'd say more than 80% of the casual Star Wars audience hasn't watched the animated series. Solo already went out of its way to establish Maul's alive, why not add him back for some fan service?

I mean who wouldn't love to see Maul back in live action?
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 5/16/2022, 4:27 PM
@CaptainDC - I'd give my 3rd nut to see Maul back in live action. But I feel like he would just be stuffed into this series. I want to see him again, but I want to see him again when it matters and it's done well.
CaptainDC
CaptainDC - 5/17/2022, 11:04 AM
@CorndogBurglar - Yeah agreed. Should have clarified - "still, would be nice to see Maul make an appearance somewhere"
bigdaddy313
bigdaddy313 - 5/14/2022, 8:10 PM
If Maul was in it it will debunk Star Wars Rebels.
SpaceParanoids
SpaceParanoids - 5/14/2022, 9:05 PM
@bigdaddy313 - Precisely
Darkknight2149
Darkknight2149 - 5/14/2022, 11:31 PM
@bigdaddy313 -
I mean, even having Darth Vader in it retcons the original trilogy.

The appearance of Cad Bane and the Grand Inquisitor also shits all over the previous media.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 5/15/2022, 4:26 AM
@Darkknight2149 - they atleast could've given The Grand Inquisitor yellow eyes.

But yeah, it just looks odd. Same with Ahsoka's appearance in The Mandalorian compared to previous appearances.

Maybe we should just throw it on it being stylized, just like how Clone Wars and Rebels were as well?
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 5/15/2022, 6:45 AM
@bigdaddy313 - I just said this up above before seeing your comment. Completely agree. There's no reason to shoe-horn Maul into the story. They already told the end of Kenobi and Maul's story. Adding more to that before the events of Rebels would be unnecessary.

It would be the equivalent to adding a Vader vs Kenobi fight to this show.....wait....
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 5/15/2022, 6:56 AM
@Darkknight2149 - Eh.....appearances are just that though. I look at it as the same thing as artist interpretation. Kind of like how comic book artists all draw characters a little differently. I wouldn't say their look craps all over the original media they were in.

Having said that, I actually liked Cad Bane's look in Boba Fett more than his animated appearances. The Inquisitor however, looks really bad...
dracula
dracula - 5/14/2022, 8:24 PM
Really makes little sense for him to encounter either of them at this point in the timeline

Seems too close to the timeframe of a new hope considering some of Vader’s lines

We saw Maul’s encounter with him in Rebels and seemed clear he did not know he was alive until season 3
Origame
Origame - 5/14/2022, 9:16 PM
@dracula - if we're talking about what we know, neither of these characters should appear. I don't know why this series can't be like a fun western style story with obi wan protecting like a small farm from criminals or something.
dracula
dracula - 5/14/2022, 8:25 PM
Guessing that drama with ray park played a role
dracula
dracula - 5/14/2022, 8:28 PM
Really the whole Obi Wan saving Luke from Tuskin raiders and a rogue jedi plot sounded cooler than inquisitors and him leaving the planet when he is suppose to be keeping a low profile

Can buy him being able to keep a conflict with raiders on the down low but Inquisitors?
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 5/15/2022, 4:24 AM
@dracula - I like the premise of that too, but I don't think that was sustainable for a whole season.

Maybe they can find it to incorporate it in a second season, if that happens
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 5/15/2022, 7:02 AM
@dracula - There's obviously going to be a reason for everything. I believe it's already been said that he leaves the planet to go protect Leiea. That makes perfect sense. I could also buy him leaving the planet to draw away the Empire from finding Luke.

But either way, would anyone seriously want an entire season of Kenobi fighting with Tuskan Raiders? That sounds horrible.
itzayaboy
itzayaboy - 5/14/2022, 8:34 PM
It would be awesome for a 3 way fight for Obi-Wan vs Vader vs Maul. Vader and Maul both wanting to kill Obi Wan but also each other because they see a threat in each other would be captivating.
SpaceParanoids
SpaceParanoids - 5/14/2022, 9:05 PM
@itzayaboy - They should just make Shadows of the Empire and give is Prince Xizor. That rivalry with Vader was fantastic.
BritishMonkey
BritishMonkey - 5/14/2022, 8:42 PM
This was already said like a month ago.
SpaceParanoids
SpaceParanoids - 5/14/2022, 8:59 PM
Or….Maul never faced Obi Wan before he met him one last time in Rebels.
Because that is canon right?

I think I remembered that right.
valmic
valmic - 5/14/2022, 10:26 PM
Meh, could have just had both.
JFerguson
JFerguson - 5/14/2022, 11:19 PM
I like Vader more
Tpo81
Tpo81 - 5/15/2022, 12:45 AM
I think it’s because Ray Park got drunk & posted a video of his wife sucking on his lightsaber
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 5/15/2022, 4:21 AM
Never really made sense for Maul to return. He's way more connected to the animated shows, and thus the general audience might not now he survived TPM.

This show obviously ties more to ROTS and ANH and Kenobi's journey in those, which obviously involves Anakin/Vader. The Inquisitors instead are a bridge to the animated shows, but don't really require any background knowledge
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