Disney’s new Star Wars TV show is a perfect treat for prequel trilogy fans, especially those who want to learn more about the Sith. Disney+’s Star Wars TV shows have been a defining factor of the franchise since The Mandalorian came out in 2019. However, the current canon incorporates the stories found in the 2008 animated show Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
As new series have arrived, from The Bad Batch to Skeleton Crew, the Star Wars timeline has been built around both the movies and the TV shows that make up its wider universe. Now, Disney is preparing to release a new, 10-episode streaming series that’s a perfect follow-up to the prequel trilogy, especially for fans of one particular Sith lord.
Maul — Shadow Lord Will Be Perfect If You Loved The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy
In April 2025, it was announced that Sith lord Darth Maul would be starring in a new series, titled Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord. The animated show takes place after the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which, in season 4, revealed Maul had survived his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi at the end of The Phantom Menace.
The series will see voice actor Sam Witwer reprise his role as Maul from previous animated series, as well as from the cast of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Set one year after the Clone Wars ended, the show sees Maul begin building a crime syndicate in the aftermath of the Jedi’s deaths, while also searching for an apprentice on Janix.
Witwer previously portrayed Sith apprentice Starkiller in the video game series Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
Alongside Witwer, the series will include Gideon Adlon as Twi’lek Jedi Devon Izara, who Maul wants as his apprentice. Other major characters include detective Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura) and his droid partner, Two-Boots (Richard Ayoade). The story of Maul — Shadow Lord will bridge the gap between later appearances by the Sith lord.
Expanding the history of Darth Maul, the show will explain how he managed to create the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate, while also promising a deeper look at the immediate impact of the Empire’s reign across the galaxy. This makes it the perfect follow-up for prequel fans seeking a deeper look at how crime evolved in Star Wars following their rule.
It also gives Maul an expanded storyline, offering more insight into how he escaped being killed by Inquisitors and became a crime boss following the Empire’s takeover. This will likely include ties to his story in The Clone Wars, but also serve as an important bridge to Rebels and how he eventually meets Ezra Bridger.
Maul — Shadow Lord Continues To Prove Star Wars “Killed” Maul Too Early
The continued addition of Darth Maul lore within the Star Wars universe proves that he was killed far too early in the franchise. While his supposed death in The Phantom Menace makes sense in the moment, it also dulls the potential for his interesting character. It also means movie-only audiences aren’t aware that he survived the fight.
Luckily, Star Wars‘ TV shows act as canon expansions of the universe, meaning that, despite the movies barely touching on Maul, his story can still continue. Unfortunately, his “death” in The Phantom Menace makes it difficult for him to return to the big screen. This has relegated much of his story to television, despite how engaging and sprawling it is.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ New Sequel Is Telling The Story Disney Ignored For Too Long
Five years after the finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the new sequel TV show will tell us an important story that Disney has ignored for too long.
Even so, the journey Maul’s gone through on the small screen has been multifaceted and interesting. Not only has it helped to develop him as a character, but it also provides a bittersweet, somewhat tragic ending that better fits his role in the larger universe. Maul — Shadow Lord can further this expansion, making him an even more dynamic antagonist.
With Maul — Shadow Lord channeling the energy of the prequels, the series appears to be the perfect appetizer for fans of the trilogy. It’s also a perfect, more villain-focused follow-up to The Clone Wars that can tell another side of Star Wars lore. Maul’s return is a perfect expansion of the prequels, which also keeping to the TV show’s already wide canon.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord premieres with two episodes on April 6, 2026 on Disney+.