At Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, Lucasfilm officially unveiled Maul: Shadow Lord, a brand-new animated series set to debut on Disney+ in 2026. This marks the next major step in the evolution of Darth Maul’s character, bringing the fan-favorite Sith Lord back to the spotlight in a dark, character-driven narrative that promises to deepen his legacy in the Star Wars mythos.
Maul: Shadow Lord – Darth Maul Returns in Dark New Animated Series for Disney+
A New Chapter in Maul’s Story
Set roughly one year after the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Maul: Shadow Lord follows Darth Maul in the shadowy underworld of the galaxy, navigating a fractured criminal empire and an increasingly oppressive Galactic regime. Far from the Sith apprentice seen in The Phantom Menace (1999), this version of Maul is a more complex and broken figure—no longer a servant of the Sith, but not yet his own master.
At this point in the timeline, Maul is working to rebuild the remnants of his vast criminal network, Crimson Dawn, after its exposure and partial collapse. The series also introduces a new Twi’lek apprentice, indicating Maul is beginning to train a successor—not to pass on wisdom, but to serve his own agenda. His struggle to reclaim power and forge a new identity outside of Darth Sidious’ shadow is expected to be a central theme of the show.
Sam Witwer Returns as the Voice—and Mind—of Maul
Voice actor Sam Witwer reprises his iconic role as Maul, having previously brought him to life in The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Witwer isn’t just voicing the character; he’s also heavily involved in shaping the series, offering creative input on Maul’s dialogue, psychological depth, and emotional arcs. His long-standing connection to the character has made him a fan-favorite, and his involvement signals a strong creative continuity with previous portrayals.
Creative Team and Animation Style
The series is helmed by Star Wars veterans, including executive producers Dave Filoni and Athena Yvette Portillo, with Matt Michnovetz (a lead writer from The Clone Wars) serving as head writer and Brad Rau (of The Bad Batch) as supervising director. This ensures a high level of narrative and visual consistency with other acclaimed animated Star Wars entries.
Visually, Maul: Shadow Lord will maintain the stylized 3D animation seen in The Clone Wars, but with a noticeably darker, more mature aesthetic. The use of shadows, harsher lighting, and more intense choreography reflects Maul’s brutal world and internal torment.
Why This Matters in the Star Wars Timeline
Maul’s arc is one of the most tragic and fascinating in Star Wars. Once a weapon of the Sith, then a vengeful rogue, his story has spanned decades of galactic history, bridging the prequel era, the Clone Wars, and the early days of the Empire. This series will likely explore his increasing obsession with Obi-Wan Kenobi, the decline of his criminal empire, and his role in the larger galaxy as the Jedi Order falls and the Empire rises.
Release and Star Wars Universe Context
Maul: Shadow Lord is set to premiere on Disney+ in 2026, and it arrives amid a wave of major new Star Wars content. Alongside the Ryan Gosling-led Starfighter film and upcoming seasons of The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, Lucasfilm is clearly doubling down on both animation and legacy characters.
For longtime fans of Maul, this series offers something rare in the Star Wars universe: a villain-driven narrative that dives deep into the scars—physical and emotional—of one of its most iconic anti-heroes. For new viewers, it promises a tightly focused, gritty story of power, loss, and the remnants of purpose in a galaxy that has moved on.
Maul: Shadow Lord may just be the most compelling Star Wars animated project since The Clone Wars, and it’s poised to finally give Maul the complete arc he deserves.
Star Wars TV Shows In Order
The Star Wars franchise, encompassing a rich assortment of television series, has become a cornerstone of science fiction storytelling. Tracking the galactic narrative can be a challenge due to the expansive chronology. With an array of series released over the years since George Lucas’s original creation, viewers have the opportunity to witness the unfolding of a sprawling space saga. It’s pivotal for fans to recognize the importance of the canonical timeline established by Disney and Lucasfilm, which determines the sequence of events within the Star Wars universe.
Understanding the order of the Star Wars TV series enhances the viewing experience. It allows fans to follow character development and plot progression as intended by the creators. These series are not just sequels or prequels to the films but are integral to the overarching Star Wars storyline. Knowing the correct timeline is key to grasping the full scope of the interwoven narratives that span across different eras of the galaxy.
Here’s a list of Star Wars TV series in order of their original release dates:
- Star Wars: Droids (1985–1986)
- Star Wars: Ewoks (1985–1986)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2020) – This includes the animated film released in 2008 that kicked off the series.
- Star Wars Rebels (2014–2018)
- Star Wars Resistance (2018–2020)
- The Mandalorian (2019–present)
- The Bad Batch (2021–2024)
- The Book of Boba Fett (2021–2022)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
- Andor (2022–2025)
- Tales of the Jedi (2022)
- Ahsoka (2023–present)
- Tales of the Empire (2024)
- The Acolyte (2024)
- Skeleton Crew (2024)
Key Takeaways
- The Star Wars TV series offer a comprehensive narrative aligned with the films.
- Recognizing the canonical timeline is essential for understanding the series’ context.
- Viewing the series in order provides a more complete grasp of the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars TV Series In Order
The Star Wars universe has expanded beyond the films with a variety of animated and live-action TV series. Viewers can explore these in a sequence that respects the chronological order of the overarching storyline.
Animated Series
Star Wars animated series began with Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Released after Attack of the Clones, the series takes place between Episodes II and III, and focuses on the galactic conflict known as the Clone Wars. Key characters include Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, and Yoda.
After the success of The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels debuted. It follows a band of rebels that stand against the Empire before the events of A New Hope. The series introduces characters like Ezra Bridger and Sabine Wren, and also brings back familiar faces.
Star Wars Resistance takes place before and during the sequel trilogy. It centers around Kazuda Xiono, a pilot recruited by the Resistance to spy on the growing threat of the First Order.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch follows a unique squad of clones first introduced in The Clone Wars. They tackle mercenary missions in the aftermath of the Clone Wars.
Live-Action Series
The live-action TV expansions began with The Mandalorian on Disney+. It follows the adventures of a lone bounty hunter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the New Republic’s authority. The show has introduced beloved characters like Grogu, also known as “The Child.”
The Book of Boba Fett continues the story of the famed bounty hunter first seen in The Empire Strikes Back. Boba Fett navigates the underworld of the galaxy to stake his claim on the territory once ruled by Jabba the Hutt.
In 2022, Obi-Wan Kenobi brought back the legendary Jedi as he keeps watch over a young Luke Skywalker on Tatooine. This series bridges the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
Coming soon, Andor will delve into the backstory of Cassian Andor, a key figure from Rogue One. Star Wars: The Acolyte is also anticipated, promising a journey into the past, exploring the galaxy about a century before The Phantom Menace.
Fans can watch these series in chronological sequence for a deeper understanding of the galaxy or choose to view them by release date to experience the unfolding of the Star Wars universe as audiences did over the years.
