If there’s one recurring lesson across Star Wars, it is that death rarely closes the book on a character. It’s no mystery to any fan that the franchise frequently moves backward and forward through its timeline, filling in gaps between trilogies and resurrecting storylines once thought finished. Maul has become one of the clearest examples of how the saga keeps returning to unfinished arcs — a trend that will continue with Maul — Shadow Lord.
The upcoming series premieres on Disney+ in April and recently revealed its first trailer.
Ahead of the new series, it’s worth catching up on all things Maul. And while we’re on the topic of characters who refuse to stay gone, it’s worth noting that Maul has also quite literally come back from the dead.
Maul’s Main Star Wars Appearances
Maul first appeared in The Phantom Menace as Darth Sidious’ apprentice, portrayed physically by Ray Park and voiced by Peter Serafinowicz.
His duel with Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) helped launch the prequel era, and his “death” after being bisected seemed permanent at the time. Years later, Lucasfilm reversed that fate in The Clone Wars, revealing Maul survived through sheer rage and dark side endurance.
Sam Witwer’s vocal performance helped redefine the character as a calculating villain. Across the animated series, Maul wages war against Obi-Wan (James Arnold Taylor), manipulates Mandalorian politics, and builds underworld alliances before escaping Imperial attention following Order 66.
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The End of Maul’s Story Meant Nothing
Maul later returned to live action in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), where he’s revealed as the hidden mastermind behind Crimson Dawn. Park returned for the physical performance, while Witwer once again provided the voice, bridging animation and film continuity.
The final chapter of Maul’s life unfolds in the animated series Star Wars Rebels. Witwer reprises the role as Maul tracks Obi-Wan (Taylor) across the desert planet Tatooine. Their short confrontation in the episode “Twin Suns” ends Maul’s decades-long pursuit of revenge. But while Maul does appear to die in the episode, and hasn’t been seen at any points along the timeline following that event, he’s still about to headline his own series.
Maul Will Keep Coming Back
As Lucasfilm Animation VP Athena Portillo told IGN last year while discussing the character’s legacy, Maul has become comparable to horror icons who repeatedly return. “He’s like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees. He just keeps coming back,” she joked.
In terms of its placement on the Star Wars timeline, Maul — Shadow Lord is set between The Clone Wars and Solo, focusing on Maul rebuilding his syndicate.
There’s Also Some Essential Reading Before the New Series
Marvel Comics is also further exploring Maul’s criminal rise with the prequel series Shadow of Maul, written by Benjamin Percy and illustrated by Madibek Musabekov.
The comic serves as a setup for the upcoming show. It releases on March 4.
Sam Witwer leads the voice cast alongside Richard Ayoade, Vanessa Marshall, Chris Diamantopoulos, A.J. LoCascio, David W. Collins, Steve Blum, Gideon Adlon, Wagner Moura, Dennis Haysbert, and Charlie Bushnell.
The series debuts April 6 on Disney+ with a two-episode premiere.
Will you be revisiting all of Maul’s appearances ahead of Shadow Lord? Let us know in the comments down below!
