Darth Maul returns in new Star Wars animated series 'Maul: Shadow Lord'

At Star Wars Celebration 2025, a major surprise dropped: the exclusive trailer for Maul: Shadow Lord. And guess what? Fans who were lucky enough to be there saw Darth Maul back in action, but this time, he’s not alone. He’s training a new apprentice, a pinkish-red-skinned Twi’lek who looks a lot like Darth Talon from the old Star Wars Legends. Intrigued yet?

If you’ve seen The Phantom Menace, you probably remember Darth Maul, the guy with the red and black face and a double-bladed lightsaber. He was trained by Darth Sidious (aka Emperor Palpatine), but Obi-Wan Kenobi cut him in half. That should have been the end... but it wasn’t.

In The Clone Wars, Maul made a shocking return, kept alive by sheer hatred and the dark side of the Force. He went from Sith apprentice to a major player in the galaxy’s criminal world. He even gave up the “Darth” title after realizing Sidious used him like a pawn.

The big reveal

Now in Maul: Shadow Lord, he’s back in full form, a criminal mastermind with a mysterious apprentice. The trailer teased a Twi’lek character with red and pink skin, glowing yellow eyes, and dark tattoos. Sound familiar? Yep, fans think it’s a version of Darth Talon, who originally appeared in non-canonical Star Wars Legends stories.

Darth Talon is one of the most striking characters in Legends. She’s a red-skinned Twi’lek covered in black Sith tattoos and trained in the dark side. In the old stories, she served under Darth Krayt in a future version of the Sith Empire. Even though those stories aren't canon anymore, Talon became a fan favorite for her fierce personality and eye-catching design.

Here’s where things get wild: George Lucas actually wanted Darth Talon in his sequel trilogy. Before selling Star Wars to Disney, Lucas had ideas for a new trilogy that didn’t include Rey or Kylo Ren. Instead, it would’ve followed Maul as the main villain, running a criminal empire, with Talon as his apprentice, basically flipping the roles of Palpatine and Vader.

The new series may not follow Lucas’ plan exactly, but it’s clearly inspired by it. Maul as the main villain? Check. Twi’lek apprentice? Check. A deeper dive into the galaxy’s crime world? You bet. It’s like Lucas’ unmade sequel trilogy is finally getting some love, just in animated form.

From what we know so far, Maul: Shadow Lord will explore the galaxy’s darker corners. Think crime syndicates, black markets, and the underworld. It’s like a mix of Breaking Bad and Star Wars: shady deals, big power moves, and betrayal around every corner.

Let’s be honest, Star Wars animation has been killing it. From The Clone Wars to Rebels to The Bad Batch, these shows have delivered rich stories and deep characters. And now, Shadow Lord looks ready to join that hall of fame.

So, how did Maul go from being sliced in two to running a criminal empire? After surviving on pure rage, he rebuilt his body with cybernetic legs, returned during The Clone Wars, and created his own syndicate called Crimson Dawn. He fought both Jedi and Sith, never truly fitting into either side.

One of Maul’s biggest changes was abandoning the Sith. He realized he was never meant to rule, just to be used and thrown away. That’s when he stopped calling himself “Darth” and started building his own legacy, one that didn’t answer to Sidious.

The Twi’lek apprentice in Shadow Lord looks like she could play a role similar to Vader, a fierce enforcer serving a mastermind. Could this be Maul's chance to finally have his own legacy? To pass on his anger and ambition? We’ll have to wait and see.

Remember Maul’s cameo in Solo? He was shown leading Crimson Dawn, and fans have been wondering what happened next. Shadow Lord could finally give us those answers, connecting the dots between his rise and his mysterious disappearance.

We don’t know the full plot yet, but the themes are clear: power, betrayal, mentorship, and revenge. With Maul in the lead and a powerful apprentice by his side, this could be one of the darkest and most exciting Star Wars stories yet.

Since the trailer dropped at Celebration 2025, fans haven’t stopped talking. Reddit is buzzing, YouTube is filled with breakdowns, and theories are flying. Will we see other characters from The Clone Wars? Will Ahsoka show up? Could Sidious return in some way? The hype is real.

Maul: Shadow Lord is shaping up to be everything fans love: rich lore, dark themes, and bold storytelling. It brings George Lucas’ original ideas back to life while giving us a fresh and thrilling new chapter. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just getting into the galaxy far, far away, this is one show you won’t want to miss.

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