Everything You Need to Know About 'Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord': Release Date, Plot & More
The project promises to deliver a dark, adult story about power, survival, and legacy.
Following the announcement of Kathleen Kennedy's departure as president of Lucasfilm, the studio unveiled the first look at one of its major projects announced this year: the animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord.
The series marks the return of one of the Star Wars universe's most charismatic and tragic villains in his own solo story. Here's everything we know about the series, which continues the tradition of The Clone Wars and Rebels.
When Will 'Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord' Be Released?
The animated series will premiere on Disney+ on April 6, 2026. The first season will consist of 10 episodes, which will be released in weekly pairs.
The final two episodes will air on Star Wars Day – May 4.
Who Are the Creators of 'Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord'?
Although the project was initiated by the new Lucasfilm CEO, Dave Filoni, the showrunner and lead writer is Matt Michnovetz, a studio veteran known for his work on later seasons of The Clone Wars, Rebels, The Bad Batch, and Tales of the Jedi.
Brad Rau, who has worked on Rebels and The Bad Batch, has been appointed supervising director.
What Will 'Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord' Be About?
Several years after the events of the final season of The Clone Wars, the action centers on the planet Janix, which is not part of the Galactic Empire.
Having escaped custody, Maul reappears there, seeking to rebuild his criminal empire, which collapsed during the war. His key ally is Devon Isara, a fugitive Jedi disillusioned with the Order who has been hiding from the Inquisitors for years.
They share a common goal: to counter the growing influence of the Emperor, whose agents, including Inquisitor Marrok, are already beginning to take an interest in Janix.
The series will explore a previously unknown period in Maul's life between his escape and his appearance in Rebels.
Who Is Maul & What's His Story?
Darth Maul first appeared in The Phantom Menace as Darth Sidious' apprentice. He was defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi and presumed dead. However, the animated series The Clone Wars revealed that he had survived his fall into a reactor shaft.
With the help of the Nightsisters' sorcery, he was restored to sanity. Instead of seeking revenge, Maul built a powerful criminal syndicate and seized control of Mandalore. Ultimately, he was captured by the Republic.
His transfer to trial coincided with the execution of Order 66. Amidst the chaos, Maul managed to escape. He later appeared in Rebels, where his complex relationship with the crew of the Ghost and his final duel with an older Obi-Wan on Tatooine marked the end of his journey.
George Lucas had even more ambitious plans for the character. In his early drafts of the sequels, Maul was to lead a criminal empire and become the main antagonist of the new trilogy.
