More Star Wars is on the horizon, and one of the saga’s most enigmatic characters is stepping back into the spotlight. Lucasfilm has officially confirmed that Darth Maul will return in Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, a new animated series set to debut on Disney+ in 2026.
The long-rumored Maul series was finally announced at Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. According to StarWars.com, “During the 20th anniversary Lucasfilm Animation panel at Star Wars Celebration Japan, surprise guest Sam Witwer took the stage to reveal his return to the galaxy as the star of the next animated series — Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord.” Witwer has voiced Maul across multiple projects and will reprise the role once more.
“In a new series set after the events of the final season of The Clone Wars, Maul rises again to lead the underworld factions,” the site continued. “Fans attending the panel in person got an early look at the series’ new animation style with an in-room-only sizzle.”
Maul’s transformation from Sith apprentice to underworld kingpin has spanned decades of Star Wars storytelling, and this latest chapter looks to delve deeper into the shadowy rise of Crimson Dawn—first teased in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), where Maul made a surprise return, voiced by Witwer and portrayed by Ray Park.
Introduced in Star Wars: Episode I–The Phantom Menace (1999), Maul instantly stood out with his fearsome look, double-bladed lightsaber, and brutal takedown of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson). But his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) appeared to mark his end—until Star Wars: The Clone Wars revived him in dramatic fashion.
Voiced by Witwer in Clone Wars, Maul was discovered deranged and barely alive on a junk world, outfitted with spider-like mechanical legs. Thanks to the aid of his brother, Savage Opress (Clancy Brown), and the dark sorcery of Mother Talzin (Barbara Goodson), Maul returned stronger—and more vengeful—than ever.
His quest for vengeance saw him seize control of Mandalore, build a powerful criminal alliance called the Shadow Collective, and duel Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) in one of the most intense sequences of Clone Wars Season 7. Though captured during the Siege of Mandalore, he escaped amidst the chaos of Order 66.
Maul’s story continued in Star Wars Rebels, where he emerged as a bitter, calculated figure bent on settling his score with Obi-Wan. He manipulated Ezra Bridger (Taylor Gray) in a bid to regain meaning and power, culminating in the fan-favorite episode “Twin Suns,” in which Maul confronted Obi-Wan (Stephen Stanton) one final time. Their last encounter was swift but powerful, ending with Maul’s quiet inquiry about “the Chosen One”—a nod to Luke Skywalker.
From his Sith origins to his emergence as the shadowy head of Crimson Dawn, Maul’s journey has traversed eras, series, and mediums. Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord promises to bridge the gap between his escape in Clone Wars and his live-action appearance in Solo, expanding on the criminal empire he secretly commands.
“Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is currently in production and will debut on Disney+ in 2026,” the official announcement concluded.
This wasn’t the only major reveal out of Star Wars Celebration. After months of speculation, Lucasfilm confirmed Shawn Levy’s Star Wars feature is officially underway. Titled Star Wars: Starfighter, the standalone film stars Ryan Gosling and is scheduled to begin production this fall. Set five years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker (2019), the film will hit theaters May 28, 2027.
In addition, Lucasfilm also revealed its next installment in the anthology series: Tales of the Underworld. The new animated chapter debuts on Star Wars Day 2025 (May 4) and features the return of beloved characters Asajj Ventress (Nika Futterman) and Cad Bane (Corey Burton).
How do you feel about Maul’s next chapter coming to Disney+? Let us know in the comments below!
