How Darth Maul Is Different In Star Wars’ New Series Compared To Past Appearances Explained By Returning Star

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Sam Witwer recently shared details about the unique portrayal of Darth Maul in the animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord.

The actor, well-known for playing the famous villain in many Star Wars productions like Clone Wars, Rebels, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and several LEGO specials, is returning in the new series Maul — Shadow Lord, debuting on Disney+ on April 6th.

In a conversation with Ash Crossan from ScreenRant about the upcoming Star Wars comic, Maul – Shadow Lord, actor Sam Witwer shared that the time period of the series is perfect for a compelling and exciting story about Maul’s personal journey. “This is where he figures out who he is,” Witwer explained.

When I first watched The Clone Wars – running from 2008 to 2020 – Darth Maul always felt like a puppet, simply following orders from whoever was pulling his strings. But then Star Wars: Rebels came along, and it completely changed my perspective. Set years later, we see Maul as a truly broken, world-weary figure, an old man who’s clearly reached his breaking point. It’s a fascinating evolution; he’s no longer just a weapon, but a character grappling with his past and facing the end of his journey.

Meanwhile, Maul – Shadow Lord takes place between those other Star Wars shows, showing Maul at the height of his powers and on a journey of self-discovery. Actor Ray Park noted that Maul believes Emperor Palpatine—or “Darth Sidious”—is manipulating events around him. He explained that Palpatine acted as a father figure to Maul, training him to be a deadly assassin.

Because of this, Maul is trying to find his own place in the world, which involves acting out and rethinking his life.

As a huge fan, I always felt there was something special about this part of his story. See, in The Clone Wars, he’s basically just following orders, a puppet doing what his master tells him. Then, later in Rebels, he’s an old, weary man, kind of resigned to his fate. But this is where we see him truly become himself. He’s at his peak, questioning everything, and really figuring out who he is. And it’s tough for him, because everywhere he turns, he sees the Emperor’s influence – it’s like the Emperor is his father figure, and that’s the path everyone expects him to take. He needs to break free and forge his own identity, which is why you see so much inner conflict and rebellion in this version of the character. It’s a really pivotal moment for him.

Throughout the Star Wars saga, Palpatine has trained several apprentices, including Darth Maul, Count Dooku, and Anakin Skywalker. Now, in the new Shadow Lord series, Darth Maul is taking on his own apprentice—a new character named Devon Izara, whom he believes is the perfect fit.

Devon believed she knew exactly what she wanted from life, but unexpected events led her in a new direction, with Maul acting as a manipulative force, pushing her towards what he considers to be the correct path.

As Witwer pointed out, the story Maul — Shadow Lord portrays Darth Maul at the height of his power, making him incredibly dangerous, and putting Devon directly in harm’s way.

The voice cast features Samuel Witwer, Gideon Adlon as Devon Izara, and a talented group of actors including Wagner Moura, Richard Ayoade, Dennis Haysbert, Chris Diamantopoulos, Charlie Bushnell, Vanessa Marshall, David W. Collins, A.J. LoCascio, and Steve Blum.

Disney has renewed Maul — Shadow Lord for a second season, meaning fans will get to see much more of Darth Maul’s story during the Galactic Empire, beyond the initial 10 episodes.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord premieres Monday, April 6, on Disney+.

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2026-04-04 01:12