Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, a brand-new Disney+ series starring the Dathomirian, was recently announced. It will be fascinating to explore a chapter of the Star Wars universe through Maul’s perspective, particularly as it follows Star Wars: The Clone Wars and precedes Star Wars Rebels. Fortunately, the actor who portrayed him in both of these animated shows prior, Sam Witwer, is reprising the role, and that is sure to elevate the series tenfold with Maul as a protagonist this time around in Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord.
It’s great that Maul, as well as Sam Witwer’s Maul performance, is being deservedly pedestaled and treated to his own show. That said, while Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is a terrific opportunity for the actor, it’s hard not to be reminded of how another fantastic Sam Witwer Star Wars role is dead and buried: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed’s Starkiller.
The Force Unleashed Is One Of Star Wars’ Greatest Stories
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 are arguably two of the best Star Wars games ever made. It is thrilling to learn about a secret apprentice of Darth Vader’s, Galen Marek—codenamed ‘Starkiller’—who is tasked with hunting Jedi after the events of the Clone Wars.
Galen is a remarkably tragic character, experiencing a bout of self-discovery that challenges his allegiance to the dark side of the Force, as well as his mentor and the Emperor, though players do have the choice to lean one way or the other in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2’s multiple endings. Plus, as a result of Sam Witwer’s voice and likeness, Starkiller is portrayed as deeply emotional and sympathetic, mirroring what Luke Skywalker’s upbringing might’ve been if he had been raised by Darth Vader instead of his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru on Tatooine.
Galen was born on the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk and abducted by Darth Vader during the planet’s Imperial occupation, when Darth Vader also slayed Galen’s father, the Jedi Kento Marek (Galen’s mother, Mallie, who was also a Jedi, had died prior).
After nearly 26 years, a third installment of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed was reportedly canceled, and the franchise has been on ice ever since. Ironically, it’s been made deliberately ambiguous whether or not Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is actually canon now, with the beloved Disney+ live-action series Andor featuring Starkiller’s armor in a missable Easter egg.
Maul’s Shadow Lord Show Is A Boon For Sam Witwer
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is sure to be another showcase of Sam Witwer’s talent as the character’s development continues. But without a third Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on the horizon, one of the actor’s best and most defining Star Wars roles is sadly being dismissed.
It’s unknown if there’ll ever be a new game in the Force Unleashed franchise, but stranger things have happened. In fact, with a new Old Republic game being made by Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic’s Casey Hudson, anything is possible in a galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord premieres on Disney+ on April 6, 2026.
