At long last, Darth Maul returns to the Star Wars galaxy in his very own animated series. And this first teaser trailer shows just how ambitious that return will be. Announced at the Lucasfilm Animation 20th Anniversary panel during Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, the series premieres April 6, 2026, exclusively on Disney+.
The reveal was met with thunderous applause from longtime fans who have followed Maul’s journey from The Phantom Menace through The Clone Wars and Rebels. Now, the trailer confirms this series places Maul at the center of a darker, crime‑driven chapter of Star Wars storytelling.
What We Learned About the Story
Maul – Shadow Lord takes place after the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, in the early years of Emperor Palpatine’s reign. Maul is no longer a Sith apprentice. Instead, he is rebuilding power through the criminal underworld. The trailer introduces Janix, a city‑planet untouched by the Empire, where crime syndicates coexist under a fragile peace.
The story also introduces Devon Izara, a disillusioned young Jedi Padawan. Her path crossing with Maul suggests a dangerous mentor‑apprentice dynamic that could reshape both characters.
Maul, Reimagined
Sam Witwer returns as the voice of Maul, continuing the performance that defined the character in The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.
What stands out is restraint. One quiet trailer moment shows Maul participating in a tea ceremony. It signals a version of Maul shaped by survival, patience, and calculation rather than constant rage.
This is Maul as a crime lord, strategist, and shadow figure rather than a blunt instrument of the dark side.
The World of Janix
Janix emerges as a major new Star Wars location. The city is layered, dense, and intentionally law‑driven, even as criminal organizations operate within it.
According to the creators, Janix functions with its own democracy and law enforcement. That balance makes it fertile ground for Maul’s influence and manipulation.
Visually, the city feels grounded and gritty, reinforcing the series’ underworld focus.
The Empire Is Closing In
Although Janix exists outside Imperial control, the Empire is expanding its reach. The trailer shows Imperial Force hunters, including Marrok, who appeared in Ahsoka Season 1. Their presence confirms this story takes place shortly after the fall of the Jedi, when survivors are being tracked down.
That pressure adds real danger to Maul’s plans and puts Devon’s future at risk.
Animation That Pushes the Medium
The series adopts a stylized animation approach that blends modern CG with traditional filmmaking techniques.
Practical elements such as painted brushstrokes on glass and physical matte paintings were captured and layered into scenes. The result is a textured, painterly look that sets Maul – Shadow Lord apart from previous Lucasfilm Animation projects.
The animation also emphasizes more fluid facial expressions and body mechanics, supporting the show’s character‑driven tone.
Voice Cast Highlights
The cast includes:
- Sam Witwer as Maul
- Gideon Adlon as Devon Izara
- Wagner Moura as Captain Brander Lawson
- Richard Ayoade as Two‑Boots
- Dennis Haysbert as Master Eeko‑Dio‑Daki
- Vanessa Marshall as Rook Kast
- A.J. LoCascio as Marrok
- Steve Blum as Icarus
Several characters will also appear in a Marvel Comics prequel series set on Janix.
