A new animated series set in the Star Wars universe is arriving soon on Disney+, with the franchise shifting focus to one of its most recognizable villains. The upcoming show, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, centers on Darth Maul and explores his story following the events of The Clone Wars.
The series is scheduled to premiere on April 6, 2026, with the first two episodes launching simultaneously on Disney+. After the debut, the show will follow a weekly rollout structure with two episodes released each week until the finale on May 4, a date widely known among fans as Star Wars Day.
Unlike many recent entries in the franchise that have introduced new protagonists or focused on side characters, Maul – Shadow Lord places a long-established antagonist at the center of the narrative. The story takes place in the period after The Clone Wars, when the Galactic Empire has begun consolidating power across the galaxy. In this environment, Maul attempts to rebuild his criminal network while operating outside the reach of the Empire.
The premise positions the character at a transitional moment. Maul had previously built influence through a network of criminal organizations during the Clone Wars era, but the rise of the Empire altered the balance of power across the galaxy. According to early details, the series will follow his efforts to regain control and reestablish his position while navigating a political landscape now dominated by Emperor Palpatine.
During this process, Maul encounters a young Jedi Padawan who has become disillusioned with the traditional Jedi path. The character becomes a potential apprentice, setting up a dynamic that mirrors Maul’s own complicated history with the Sith. The relationship could also explore themes around manipulation, loyalty, and the shifting definitions of power in a post–Clone Wars galaxy.
Sam Witwer returns to voice Darth Maul in the new series. Witwer has portrayed the character across several animated projects, including Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. His portrayal helped expand the character far beyond his original appearance in The Phantom Menace, transforming Maul from a relatively brief film antagonist into a recurring figure with a complex backstory.
In interviews discussing the new show, Witwer has described Maul as being in a period of uncertainty when the story begins. The rise of the Empire forces him to reassess long-standing plans and alliances. Many of the systems and contacts that once supported his ambitions are no longer in place, leaving him to rebuild his influence in a drastically different political climate.
Another central element of the narrative appears to be Maul’s evolving relationship with Emperor Palpatine. Throughout earlier Star Wars stories, Maul was trained by Palpatine as an apprentice, but later events left him isolated and stripped of the power he once sought. According to Witwer, the new series explores Maul’s growing resentment toward his former master and his realization of how deeply Palpatine’s influence shapes the Empire.
This tension could become a key theme throughout the series, as Maul attempts to assert his own power while confronting the legacy of the Sith order that once defined his purpose. The character’s motivations have long been shaped by anger, survival, and revenge, and Shadow Lord appears poised to examine those motivations in greater depth.
The timing of the series release also aligns with Disney’s continued effort to expand Star Wars storytelling across multiple formats, including animated series, live-action projects, films, and games. Animated shows in particular have become an important part of the franchise’s broader narrative structure, often exploring timelines and characters that receive less attention in theatrical releases.
With its focus on a familiar villain navigating the aftermath of the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is positioned as a character-driven addition to the franchise’s growing library of streaming content.
