Darth Maul Returns in First Teaser for Star Wars Spin-off ‘Shadow Lord’

The next chapter in the Star Wars universe has been revealed with the first teaser for the animated series Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord. The show brings back the fan-favorite villain Darth Maul and will debut on Disney+ later this year, with an official trailer scheduled for release tomorrow.

Series Details and Creative Team

The series is set after the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and follows Maul as he works to rebuild his criminal syndicate and ascend to power in the galaxy’s underworld. The project is spearheaded by Dave Filoni, who now oversees Lucasfilm alongside Lynwen Brennan. The creative team includes head writer Matt Michnovetz, known for his work on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and supervising director Brad Rau from Star Wars: The Bad Batch. Sam Witwer returns to voice the character of Darth Maul.

Timeline and Story Connections

Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord is set in the period after Maul’s escape in The Clone Wars and before his final confrontation in Star Wars: Rebels. This timeline positions the series to explore the character’s activities during the rise of the Crimson Dawn syndicate, which was briefly featured in Solo: A Star Wars Story. The show is expected to provide the most detailed look at Maul’s story yet, potentially featuring characters like Qi’ra, played by Emilia Clarke in the live-action film.

Broader Star Wars Slate

This new series is one of two animated projects slated for Disney+ this year. The other is Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi, a spin-off from the anthology series. On the live-action front, Ahsoka Season 2 is anticipated for 2026, and the film The Mandalorian & Grogu is set for a theatrical release on May 22, 2026.

Dive Deeper into the Star Wars Universe

Curious about where Maul - Shadow Lord fits into the larger saga or want to explore more about your favorite characters? Visit What’s After the Movie for comprehensive movie information, including spoiler-free summaries, trailers, and the latest industry news.