STAR WARS: MAUL - SHADOW LORD Animated TV Series Starring Sam Witwer Officially Set For 2026 Release

STAR WARS: MAUL - SHADOW LORD Animated TV Series Starring Sam Witwer Officially Set For 2026 Release

Following the conclusion of The Bad Batch, Lucasfilm has finally revealed its next animated series, with Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord set to premiere on Disney+ next year. Find more details here...

By JoshWilding - Apr 18, 2025 09:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: SFFGazette.com

Obi-Wan Kenobi sliced Darth Maul in half and sent him tumbling to his death in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. However, The Clone Wars animated series would later reveal that Papatine's Sith apprentice had survived. 

Now rocking a pair of badass cybernetic legs, his story continued there before the villain eventually returned in Star Wars Rebels (which is where his tale also concluded after one final clash with Obi-Wan on Tatooine). 

Solo: A Star Wars Story brought Maul back in live-action, and had that movie received a sequel, chances are we'd have seen more of what he got up to as the leader of Crimson Dawn. Unfortunately, the movie was a box office flop.

At Star Wars Celebration in Japan earlier today, it was confirmed - via SFFGazette.com -that Maul will return in Lucasfilm's next animated series, Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord

"After the Clone Wars, Maul plots to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire," reads a brief synopsis. "In a new series set after the events of the final season of The Clone Wars, Maul rises again to lead the underworld factions."

That's all we have to go on for now. However, this sounds like exactly the type of series Star Wars fans have been waiting to see from Lucasfilm (especially with clones well and truly having run their course). There are also plenty of gaps in Maul's history that would benefit from being filled in here. 

According to those who were at the panel, the series may explore Maul's childhood and the origin story of Darth Talon. 

It's hard not to wish it were live-action, but the good news is that Sam Witwer, who first portrayed Maul in The Clone Wars and later reprised the role in Star Wars Rebels, is back to voice the iconic villain. He's made the character his own after taking over the role from The Phantom Menace's Peter Serafinowicz.

Fans attending the panel in person got an early look at the series' new animation style with an in-room-only sizzle. Unfortunately, that's yet to find its way online. 

Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord is currently in production and will debut on Disney+ in 2026.

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Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 4/18/2025, 9:12 AM
Awesome! Good for Sam, he's a true Star Wars nerd that has corrected Dave Filoni

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DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 4/18/2025, 9:30 AM
@Wahhvacado - Facts. Lucasfilm should hire him to take on a much larger role than simply voice talent. The man knows his Star Wars lore and is super passionate about it.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/18/2025, 10:16 AM
Yeah, I don't know everything about him, but he seems like an upstanding guy and fellow Star Wars fan.

May the Force be with him and with us all in these dark times of underwhelming and abhorrent Star Wars products.
Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 4/18/2025, 11:05 AM
@DarthOmega - Absolutely agree, I would feel much more comfortable with him in the writers room making sure things work
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 4/18/2025, 9:12 AM
So basically explaining whatever that tease was in Solo
Repian
Repian - 4/18/2025, 9:17 AM
This is the opportunity to include a dose of horror in the Star Wars universe.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 4/18/2025, 9:20 AM
Live-action would've been cool, but it being animated is great too. The animation style has come a long way. Every frame in Bad Batch already felt like a painting.
Superspecialawesomeguy
Superspecialawesomeguy - 4/18/2025, 9:20 AM
I hate how all Disney has to do to bring me back to SW is just give me something Dart Maul centric smh.

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MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/18/2025, 10:18 AM
@Superspecialawesomeguy -

I liked Darth Maul more in my youth.

I will never like him enough to pay for Disney+.
Superspecialawesomeguy
Superspecialawesomeguy - 4/18/2025, 11:50 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - Pay?

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MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 4/18/2025, 9:21 AM
This is awesome news! SW animated series are fantastic and usually dont disappoint or drop the ball like live action or the movies. i have high hopes for this
epc1122
epc1122 - 4/18/2025, 9:52 AM
@MotherGooseUPus - I really liked clone wars and rebels, what are your thoughts on bad batch and resistance? I’ve never seen bad batch because the premise seemed eh to me. Do you find it worth watching?
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/18/2025, 10:21 AM
@MotherGooseUPus -

I'm glad you like them.

Even Clone Wars was underwhelming for me.

The Clone Wars, the earlier, Samurai Jack, cel animation type show, was pretty fun though.

What are your least favorite post 2014 Star Wars cartoons?
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 4/18/2025, 10:54 AM
@epc1122 - Bad Batch is Awesome! Highly recommend and will not disappoint. I have not watched resistance yet, its something ill get to at some point. Again, thats just my opinion
epc1122
epc1122 - 4/18/2025, 11:02 AM
@MotherGooseUPus - thanks for sharing. I’ll prob give bad batch a chance, one of these days. Resistance I tried but didn’t really like.
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 4/18/2025, 11:11 AM
@epc1122 - Bad Batch is a good show. I haven't watched the last season I just haven't gotten around to it, but the first season is pretty awesome.
epc1122
epc1122 - 4/18/2025, 11:20 AM
@DarthOmega - it’s three seasons?
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 4/18/2025, 11:26 AM
@epc1122 - Yup. Time flies. Seems like season one wasn't that long ago.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 4/18/2025, 3:36 PM
@MotherGooseUPus @epc1122 - Resistance is kind of it's own thing. Different animation style, different setting (just before Force Awakens) and definitely more kid-focused. I couldn't get past the first Season, though I hear business picks up the further you go along.
epc1122
epc1122 - 4/18/2025, 4:16 PM
@Clintthahamster - I saw the first episode but wasn’t sure if it ever got better in the minds of the fans. I know kylo ren made a brief cameo so not sure if it’s worth watching. If i have nothing else to watch I may start again. Thanks for the info though, appreciate it 👍
Repian
Repian - 4/18/2025, 9:28 AM
If we're going to look at Darth Maul's childhood, I want Carl Lumbly to have a role as the voice of Maul's father and great Zabrak warrior.
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supermanrex
supermanrex - 4/18/2025, 9:53 AM
AWESOME!!!!
epc1122
epc1122 - 4/18/2025, 9:54 AM
Glad to read people are excited for this project. I like maul as a character but for some reason I’m not excited for this. I think I was hoping it would be live action rather than animated. Will still probably watch and hopefully the future trailers will have me more pumped 👍
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 4/18/2025, 10:00 AM
@epc1122 - It's the animated Maul that really made the character. So much so they used Sam's iconic voice in Solo. I'd love to see a live action Maul as well, but I'll take this all day.
epc1122
epc1122 - 4/18/2025, 10:07 AM
@DarthOmega - I definitely agree that the animated version is what helped the audience connect with the character but, like you, i was hoping for a live action version. I think I read the premise saying he’s going to have a student and I think that’s the disconnect for me. While I get Star Wars is about mentor and pupil, feel like it’s been done before. Still hopeful it’s good and can’t wait for the trailers but that’s where I’m at with this project lol. Hopeful but not overly excited.
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 4/18/2025, 10:17 AM
@epc1122 - We all saw what happened to the last guy he took under his wing.

?si=56Mk5gsdHbgsi2zN

Didn't work out to well for Savage but it did give us quite possibly the best Lightsaber fight in Star Wars history. It was so fun watching Sideous just toying with them like a cat playing with his food lol
epc1122
epc1122 - 4/18/2025, 10:22 AM
@DarthOmega - definitely agree and love that scene! Please don’t get me wrong, I like and find maul to be an interesting character. Hopefulnew series is awesome. 😊
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 4/18/2025, 9:57 AM
Maul looked cool and had cool moves in the Phantom Menace but I wasn't crazy about the him. Funny how an animated kids show fully fleshed out the character and made him unforgettable. He's now in my top 3 SW characters. Great writing and an Amazing voice actor.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/18/2025, 10:23 AM
@DarthOmega -

Who are your other two favorites?
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 4/18/2025, 10:33 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea -

1. Emperor Palpatine
2. Darth Maul
3. Luke Skywalker
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/18/2025, 9:59 AM
Hell yeah!!.

Part of me feels a bit disappointed ngl since we already know Mauls end in Rebels but the other half is like “well , we don’t know how he got there” which is the exciting part imo…

Him trying to rebuild his criminal syndicate and take the underworld whilst having a new apprentice (rumored to be Darth Talon) sounds like a really fun premise so looking forward to it!!.

Plus , I’m just happy Sam Witwer finally gets to be the lead In a SW series considering his performance is partly the reason I love Maul.

?si=R4zR4RsESrZVGqBJ
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/18/2025, 10:13 AM
Dear Bob Iger and Kathleen Kennedy,

On behalf of conservatives everywhere, we're sorry.

Now can you please make some actually good Star Wars movies, shows, characters, video games, theme park attractions, book, comics, and toys again?

Things set centuries and millennia before and after the original trilogy.

Thank you.
itzayaboy
itzayaboy - 4/18/2025, 10:15 AM
Holy shit. This is the best creative decision and idea for a show yet. Can’t wait for this. Filoni will cook.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/18/2025, 10:26 AM
More Maul.

I get it. He has expanded universe Boba Fett appeal. A neat looking guy who does neat things.

But we've had a lot of Maul.

In addition can we get some actually good scripts for some new characters who lived hundreds and thousands of years before and after the days of Luke Skywalker?
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 4/18/2025, 10:36 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - The Old Republic is literally filled with great stories and characters. Why they won't explore that in films is beyond me. It's easy money. Fans have been asking for it for years. Instead they give us singing witches, Lizzo and Jack Black. It's almost like they were trying to sabotage Star Wars on purpose.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/18/2025, 11:07 AM
@DarthOmega -

They were trying to.

How people can look at the decline of Star Wars, Disney Disney, Marvel, Willow, Indiana Jones, Doctor Who, Middle-earth, Star Trek, etc., and not see a conspiracy to at least partially ruin them is confounding.
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 4/18/2025, 10:47 AM
This is bigger and better than that Starfighter announcement. Cant wait! Clone Wars made Maul one of the best Star Wars characters, cant wait to fill in the gaps of his storyline!
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 4/18/2025, 10:55 AM
@HeavyMetal4Life - Damn man. I haven't seen you here in ages. Hope you've been well.
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 4/18/2025, 11:11 AM
@DarthOmega - hey! I'm good, hope you are too. I'm around, just don't comment as much as I used too (though I've been commenting more recently on certain articles).
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/18/2025, 11:04 AM
Somehow, Maul survived.
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