Star Wars Officially Unveils Maul Shadow Lord’s Exciting Animation Style

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Lucasfilm is trying something new with the look of their upcoming series, Maul: Shadow Lord. The show will focus on Sam Witwer’s Darth Maul after the events of Order 66. It’s the next installment in the story begun by Clone Wars, and will likely continue using that show’s distinctive animation style.

Details about the new Maul: Shadow Lord series have been scarce, but a recent preview suggests some big changes are coming. The 25-second teaser, released to build excitement for the full trailer, showed off what might be a completely different animation style for the show, which is expected in 2026.

This brief promotional video primarily features striking, brushstroke-style scenes revisiting some of Darth Maul’s most memorable appearances in the movies and TV shows. It’s the first time Star Wars has used this particular art style, and it might hint at the overall visual direction of the upcoming Maul series.

The upcoming series, Shadow Lord, will feature the familiar 3D animation style seen in The Clone Wars. This style might also be used for flashbacks, showing Maul’s history and how it connects to his current struggles under the Empire.

Watch the complete teaser below:

The Disney+ series Maul: Shadow Lord is scheduled to premiere in 2026. Created by Dave Filoni, who recently became head of Lucasfilm, the show will focus on Maul – the villain from the Star Wars prequels – and his adventures after the Jedi Order has fallen, as he adapts to a changing galaxy.

Sam Witwer, who has famously voiced Darth Maul for years, will reprise his role. The story will also introduce a new Twi’lek character, likely as Maul’s apprentice, and a Jedi hunter named Marrok.

When Will Maul: Shadow Lord Be Released?

For months, fans have anticipated the arrival of Maul: Shadow Lord on Disney+, but the specific release date has been unknown.

The new series centering on Maul is part of Lucasfilm’s upcoming projects for 2026, alongside shows like The Mandalorian & Grogu, Ahsoka Season 2, and Star Wars Visions Presents: The Ninth Jedi. Currently, only The Mandalorian & Grogu (set to release May 29th) and Ahsoka Season 2 (expected this summer) have confirmed release dates.

With a trailer for Maul: Shadow Lord already completed, the new animated series appears to be launching soon and will likely start the year for the franchise.

After January 27th, when the Marvel series Wonder Man premieres, Disney+ doesn’t have many new shows scheduled. There’s roughly a month between Wonder Man and the release of Daredevil: Born Again in early March, which creates a perfect opportunity for a new Star Wars series to premiere. It looks like Maul will be that series.

The trailer for Maul: Shadow Lord suggests it will be released in early February. It will likely be the main focus on Disney+ for a few weeks before Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 premieres and becomes the dominant topic of conversation.

The Maul storyline doesn’t have to be completely resolved before Daredevil is released, but it should definitely be well underway when Marvel starts promoting the new show.

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2026-01-22 18:05