Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord follows Maul in the aftermath of The Clone Wars as Lucasfilm brings the fan favorite back in a new animated series.

If you wish to go into the series without knowing anything, it’s best to stop reading now. But if you’ve already seen the Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord trailer, the following review should be considered safe to read as far as any spoilers are concerned. Consider the title artwork below as your spoiler warning.

Developed by Dave Filoni and Matt Michnovetz, this pulpy adventure follows Maul (Sam Witwer) as he works to rebuild his criminal syndicate on Janix, a world the Empire has yet to touch. While there, he encounters Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon), a disillusioned young Jedi Padawan to Master Eeko-Dio-Daki (Dennis Haysbert). Maul hopes that the Twi’lek Jedi could become the apprentice he needs in his persistent quest for revenge against Emperor Palpatine for casting him aside. Could Devon become Darth Talon? We’ll see.

When the series isn’t focused on Maul, audiences experience Janix through the eyes of Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura), a police detective working with the planet’s local law enforcement. His former droid partner is officially called 2B0T but is better known as Two-Boots (Richard Ayoade). As far as Star Wars droids go, Two-Boots prefers to play by the rules but more or less serves as comic relief.

While Janix has largely stayed out of the Empire’s eye, they eventually show up, bringing a pair of Inquisitors—Marrok (A.J. LoCascio) and the Eleventh Brother (Clancy Brown)—with them. Not so much because of the two Jedi doing their best to survive in the aftermath of Clone Troopers turning on them after Order 66, but because Maul is considered a fugitive of the Galactic Empire. As for the Jedi, any plans to get off the planet are easier said than done with TK Troopers in every direction, let alone the Inquisitors.

It was only a matter of time before the Star Wars universe returned to the pulpy origins that inspired George Lucas to create it in the first place. Disney sent press the first eight episodes of the ten-episode season. Thankfully, a second season is already in development, so it won’t be the last we hear from Maul. However, I’m still curious to see how this season will end. While it’s been years since his introduction in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Maul grew into a fan favorite through appearances in The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and a brief cameo in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

What we know from canon is that Maul is on Dathomir when Qi’ra contacts him after killing her Crimson Dawn superior, Dryden Vos. Eventually, he becomes stranded on Malachor and dies in battle against his old nemesis, Obi-Wan Kenobi, two years before the Battle of Yavin in Star Wars Rebels. I don’t know how many seasons Lucasfilm has planned for the animated series, but I’ll be curious to see if we eventually learn how he ends up on Malachor. There’s so much that’s considered canon, so please forgive me if this has already been covered elsewhere. For now, I’m just glad to have a new Star Wars series on streaming, even if I’ve already binged most of it.

The Clone Wars established Maul’s formation of the Shadow Collective in order to threaten his former master’s plans. The collective includes the Nightbrothers, Black Sun, Crimson Dawn, the Pyke Syndicate, and a group of loyal Mandalorians. The Hutts abandoned them during the Clone Wars, and Crimson Dawn eventually becomes the most powerful of what are known as the Five Crime Syndicates in the aftermath. As the series explores the criminal underworld, one thing is certain: to survive in the shadows, they must avoid any Imperial entanglements.

As for the animation style, it’s similar to that of The Clone Wars but more stylized. The planet of Janix is depicted in a gritty manner, and the series is full of reds and shadows. I also enjoyed how the painted brushstrokes help set it apart from other animated series within the larger universe.

Even with two episodes remaining, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord stands as a strong and stylish addition to the franchise, giving one of its most compelling characters a story worthy of his legacy. By leaning into the galaxy’s criminal underworld and embracing a pulpy, character-driven approach, the series carves out a distinct identity within Star Wars canon. Whether it ultimately sticks the landing remains to be seen, but based on what’s been made available so far, this is an engaging and visually striking chapter in Maul’s ongoing saga—one that’s well worth the journey.

CREATOR: Dave Filoni
DEVELOPED BY: Dave Filoni and Matt Michnovetz
SUPERVISING DIRECTOR: Brad Rau
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Dave Filoni, Athena Yvette Portillo, Matt Michnovetz, Brad Rau, Carrie Beck, Josh Rimes
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Alex Spotswood
VOICE CAST: Sam Witwer, Gideon Adlon, Wagner Moura, Richard Ayoade, Dennis Haysbert, Chris Diamantopoulos, Charlie Bushnell, Vanessa Marshall, David W. Collins, A.J. LoCascio, Steve Blum

Disney+ will premiere the first two episodes of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord on April 6, 2026. Two episodes will follow weekly through on May 4. Grade: 4/5

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