Disney’s Star Wars Is Officially Rewriting A Beloved Prequel Character

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Disney is significantly expanding the story of Darth Maul, a popular character from the Star Wars prequels, with the release of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. While the prequels featured many memorable characters like Anakin Skywalker and Qui-Gon Jinn, Darth Maul has undergone a remarkable transformation in fans’ eyes. Surprisingly, Maul has appeared in more screen time over the last 26 years than Darth Vader, and his story is still unfolding within the Star Wars universe.

Previews for Maul – Shadow Lord reveal that Maul is working against the Empire not long after the events of Revenge of the Sith. During the chaotic period following the Clone Wars, Maul built a powerful criminal empire and secretly led the Crimson Dawn syndicate. But he’s not just changing his role from Sith apprentice – he’s changing in other ways, too.

Maul – Shadow Lord Will Show A New Side To The Iconic Villain

Sam Witwer, the voice actor for Maul in Maul – Shadow Lord, recently shared that the character will be portrayed differently in the new series (according to The Holo Files). Witwer explained that this version of Maul will be more cautious and thoughtful as he works towards his goals, a change from how he acted in The Phantom Menace and The Clone Wars. He’s also started to make his own decisions, rather than simply following orders from someone like Palpatine.

With the Empire now in control, Maul is taking stock of the situation. He’d made arrangements to protect himself during the transition, but many of his expected allies aren’t around. As things settle, he’s observing the Empire—something he and his master had spent years building—and questioning whether this is what Palpatine intended, and how he truly feels about it.

I’ve been following Maul’s story closely, and it’s fascinating to see his evolution. It’s no longer just about being abandoned; he’s finally understood that Palpatine is the source of all his pain. This realization has completely shifted his focus – he’s not just seeking revenge, he’s actively plotting Palpatine’s downfall. And interestingly, he’s trading in some of his usual brute force for a more strategic approach, realizing he needs to plan his moves instead of just slashing his way through problems. It’s a smart turn for the character, and I’m eager to see where it leads.

He has big plans, but he’s torn between leading from behind the scenes and taking direct action. He finds it hard to trust others and share responsibility, often preferring to handle things himself even when he shouldn’t. This makes delegating tasks a real challenge for him.

I’m really excited to hear that Darth Maul will have a new right-hand person, a Mandalorian named Rook Kast! From what I’ve gathered, the Maul we’re going to see in Maul – Shadow Lord is going to be a much more complex villain than the one from The Phantom Menace or even The Clone Wars. Sam Witwer has said that Maul is still definitely not a hero, but he’s leaning more into an anti-hero role, which is a totally fresh take on the character. It’s going to be fascinating to see that evolution!

The Deconstruction Of Darth Maul Began Long Before Disney’s Star Wars

The portrayal of Maul in Maul – Shadow Lord is quite different from his first appearance in The Phantom Menace, but this change has been developing for years. Even before Disney’s acquisition of Star Wars, the series began to reimagine Maul’s character when he was brought back in season 4 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars in 2012. The Clone Wars significantly expanded Maul’s backstory and personality, adding a lot more complexity to who he is.

The series The Clone Wars showed that Maul resented Palpatine for discarding him as an apprentice. After a decisive defeat by Sidious, he severed ties with the Sith and focused on building a criminal empire. This decline continued in Star Wars Rebels, where Maul is portrayed as a man who lost everything to Palpatine and the Empire. Though he still wields the power of the dark side, he’s no longer a true Sith Lord.

Maul Will See The Jedi Differently In Maul – Shadow Lord

A surprising detail from Sam Witwer’s discussion of Maul – Shadow Lord is that Maul’s feelings towards the Jedi have significantly evolved. Witwer explained that Maul now almost wishes the Jedi still existed, because he actually held them in higher regard than he does the Empire. Even though he disagreed with their beliefs, Maul respected the Jedi’s principles, something he feels is completely lacking in Palpatine’s Empire.

He was taught to see the Jedi as enemies and to destroy them without thinking, but now he realizes the galaxy could really benefit from their help. He at least respected the Jedi because you always knew where they stood. This Empire, however, has no real values – it’s just about gaining power and wealth. He finds that deeply unsettling. While he didn’t always agree with the Jedi, they at least had a code, and you could negotiate with them. Trying to reason with the Empire is impossible.

This represents a significant change in how Maul views the Jedi. Throughout The Clone Wars, he was completely focused on destroying them, especially Obi-Wan Kenobi, and driven by intense hatred. However, in Maul – Shadow Lord, it appears Maul’s goals may be more in line with the Jedi than with the Sith. Only Maul – Shadow Lord will fully explain the extent of this surprising connection.

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2026-02-25 03:39