2026’s Clone Wars Sequel Will Officially Feature 8 Different Key Star Wars Species

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The new Disney+ series, Maul – Shadow Lord, is set to premiere with ten episodes, and the initial trailer reveals appearances from at least eight different alien species from the Star Wars universe. Star Wars: The Clone Wars ran for seven seasons plus a movie over a period of twelve years, connecting the stories of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. That series popularized the CGI 3D animation style now common in Star Wars, including shows like Rebels and The Bad Batch, which is a sequel to The Clone Wars.

Darth Maul, a famous villain from Star Wars and a key figure in The Clone Wars, has returned as a powerful galactic criminal (voiced by Sam Witwer). Following his battle with Ahsoka Tano – which happened around the same time as Episode III – Maul managed to escape and infiltrate the newly established Galactic Empire. While fans know he eventually leads the Crimson Dawn syndicate and is ultimately defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi on Tatooine, the story of what happened in between will be revealed in the new Disney+ series, Maul – Shadow Lord, premiering April 6th.

All 8 Alien Species Confirmed for Disney+’s Maul – Shadow Lord

Zabrak

Sam Witwer’s portrayal of Maul is of a Zabrak, a species known for their horns and two hearts. Originally from the planet Iridonia, many Zabraks later made their home on Dathomir, a red-tinged world in the Outer Rim. There, they became skilled warriors serving the mystical Nightsisters.

Besides Darth Maul, other well-known Zabrak characters from the Star Wars universe include Sugi, a female bounty hunter from The Clone Wars, and Savage Opress, who was Asajj Ventress’s apprentice.

Human

Even though the Star Wars galaxy is full of strange aliens and planets, humans still play a central role, and that continues in the upcoming Maul – Shadow Lord series. Captain Brander Lawson, the main villain, appears to be the most important human character, and he’s joined by his droid partner, Two-Boots.

Lawson is a well-respected police officer on Janix, a distant planet beyond the control of the Empire. This makes it the perfect place for Darth Maul to rebuild his criminal network. Interestingly, the actor Wagner Moura, who plays Lawson, is also famous for portraying drug kingpin Pablo Escobar in the series Narcos.

Twi’lek

As a Star Wars fan, one of the first things you notice about Twi’leks is their unique look – those cool, twin head-tails, called lekku. It’s a feature they share with characters like Ahsoka Tano, and I’m excited to see more of both of them in Season 2 of Ahsoka, along with aliens from five other species! You might recognize Twi’leks like Hera Syndulla and even the shady Bib Fortuna – they’re originally from the lush, forested planet of Ryloth, and they always add a lot of character to any scene.

During the time the Empire was hunting Jedi, a young Twi’lek Padawan will appear on Janix in Devon Izara. She’s easily recognized by her pink skin and the purple markings on her head-tails (lekku). Actress Gideon Adlon, known for her role in Blockers, provides the voice for this character in the first installment of Maul – Shadow Lord.

Gran

Grans are easily recognized by their distinctive features: they have three eyes, goat-like noses, small antenna-like bumps on their hands, and are known for having large hands. Throughout the Star Wars stories, you can find grans serving in the Galactic Senate, as Jedi, and even competing in pod races.

In the trailer for Maul – Shadow Lord, a large, unidentified Gran is seen at what appears to be a suspicious transaction, which quickly turns violent when Maul angrily shoots him.

Trandoshan

In the Star Wars universe, the Trandoshans are a race of reptilian humanoids first seen in The Empire Strikes Back as the bounty hunter Bossk. They’re known for being skilled hunters and, like some real-world reptiles, have the remarkable ability to regrow lost limbs and heal quickly.

A mysterious Trandoshan appears in the comic Maul – Shadow Lord, continuing a long tradition of shadowy figures in the Star Wars galaxy and participating in suspicious activities.

Pyke

The Pykes originated on the planet Oba Diah, located in the Outer Rim. However, they’ve expanded their influence galaxy-wide through the Pyke Syndicate, which controls most of the spice trade.

We saw the Pykes battle Boba Fett on Tatooine in his Disney+ show, and now Darth Maul might be their next target – or they might become targets for his growing criminal organization, Crimson Dawn.

Bith

Bith are known throughout the Star Wars galaxy as a remarkably peaceful species. They’re easily identified by their distinctive domed heads and large, shiny black eyes—they don’t have eyelids or noses, though! Instead of nostrils, they smell using special organs under the flaps on their faces, and they also have incredibly sharp hearing.

These creatures are famous for their musical talent, and they’ve performed in bars all over the planet Tatooine, most memorably in A New Hope with the popular band Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes. However, it seems they’ll only have a minor role in Maul – Shadow Lord, appearing in the background without impacting the main plot.

Ithorian

Ithorians, often called hammerheads in the Star Wars universe, are known for being a very peaceful species. Anyone who acted violently was exiled from their home planet, Ithor. They have distinctive, deep voices because of the two mouths located on either side of their necks.

The story will continue in Maul – Shadow Lord, featuring a group of aliens who appear to be in danger from an AT-ST.

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2026-04-02 14:06