Star Wars Is Giving Us A Brand-New Duel Of The Fates, 27 Years After The Phantom Menace

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. Darth Maul’s fight with Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the most famous lightsaber battles ever filmed. It’s particularly memorable thanks to John Williams’ incredible score, “Duel of the Fates.” That name is fitting, as the duel had a huge impact on the entire Skywalker saga, ultimately deciding Anakin Skywalker’s fate.

After almost thirty years, Star Wars is exploring similar themes in the new Duel of the Fates series. The first two episodes of Maul – Shadow Lord show the former Sith Lord caught in a struggle where the fate of a young, Force-sensitive individual is at stake – and will likely be decided by the end of the season.

This time, Maul seems to be taking control of his own path and making his own choices, unlike in The Phantom Menace where he was just following orders.

27 Years Ago, Anakin Skywalker’s Destiny Was Determined By The Duel Of The Fates

As a huge Star Wars fan, I always felt that the original “Duel of the Fates” was incredibly important. It really set the stage for everything that happened with young Anakin and ultimately shaped his entire destiny within the saga.

The fight between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul on Naboo greatly impacted Anakin Skywalker’s destiny. Qui-Gon believed Anakin was the Chosen One, and he planned to teach him the ways of the Force in a way that probably would have prevented Anakin from turning to the dark side. This training would likely have been different from the strict rules and traditions of the Jedi Order.

If Qui-Gon Jinn hadn’t died, Anakin Skywalker’s Jedi journey would have likely been very different. Because Qui-Gon was killed, Obi-Wan Kenobi took Anakin as his Padawan, setting in motion the events that eventually led to Anakin’s fall to the dark side and transformation into Darth Vader. While Obi-Wan and Anakin formed a close, brotherly bond, some believe Anakin really needed a father figure.

Now, Shadow Lord Features Maul Once More With Another Force-Sensitive’s Destiny

After 27 years, the comic series Maul: Shadow Lord revisits the intense duel from The Phantom Menace. However, this time, Maul isn’t acting on Darth Sidious’s orders—he’s working to create his own destiny.

The first two episodes of Shadow Lord show that Darth Maul quickly recognizes the powerful abilities of Devon Izara, a Jedi who survived the Empire’s attacks and was a student of Jedi Master Eeko-Dio Daki. Both Jedi are hiding from the Empire on Janix, a dangerous planet where Maul is trying to build a criminal empire.

Similar to how Qui-Gon recognized Anakin’s potential, Maul believes Devon could be a powerful apprentice. He hopes to persuade her that the dark side offers a more fulfilling path than the one that led to the Jedi’s decline. It will be interesting to see if Maul can succeed in turning her to the dark side, especially as Devon’s current master will likely be working to keep her on the path of the light.

It’s easy to see how the start of this new story arc in Maul – Shadow Lord mirrors the beginning of The Phantom Menace, and it’s also easy to predict what could happen if Master Daki were defeated.

Devon Izara is widely expected to be a version of Darth Talon, a character originally from the older “Legends” stories, and based on ideas George Lucas had for the sequels. Whatever happens, it will be fascinating to see what’s next for Devon in the ongoing story of Maul – Shadow Lord.

New episodes of Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord release Mondays on Disney+ from Lucasfilm Animation.

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2026-04-08 03:10