We are less than 12 hours away from the return of Sam Witwer as the voice of Maul, and we now have the full map for former Sithord’s journey. Disney+ has confirmed the release schedule for Maul-Shadow Lord, and it’s a sprint to May the 4th.
The Lineup:
April 6: Chapters 1 & 2 (“The Dark Revenge” / “Sinister Schemes”)
April 13: Chapters 3 & 4 (“Whispers in the Unknown” / “Pride and Vengeance”)
April 20: Chapters 5 & 6 (“Inquisition” / “Night of the Hunted”)
April 27: Chapters 7 & 8 (“Call to the Oblivion” / “The Creeping Fear”)
May 4: Chapters 9 & 10 (“Strange Allies” / “Finale”)
New episodes will be available at 12 AM PT/3 AM ET.
The decision to release these in pairs weekly is a smart move to keep the event feel alive during the lead-up to finale. By ending on Star Wars Day–amd withholding the final two episodes from the screening package–it’s obvious that Lucasfilm has a major surprise or two in store.
It seems the rule of two is alive and well at Lucasfilm. In a massive show of confidence, Disney+ and Lucasfilm have officially renewed the upcoming animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord for a second season—and the first episode hasn’t even hit the streamer yet.
The announcement came via a post on StarWars.com and an extensive profile in Esquire, where Lucasfilm President Dave Filoni confirmed that work is already underway on the next chapter of the Zabrak’s criminal odyssey.
Season 1 is set to debut on Monday, April 6, 2026, with a two-episode premiere. The 10-episode first season will follow Maul during the “gap years” between Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Solo, specifically focusing on his journey to becoming the Godfather of the Star Wars universe.
Filoni teased that Season 2 will continue to explore Maul’s descent into the “addiction” of the Dark Side. “In order to quash that feeling of remorse, you have to do it again. And again… and it becomes this way of being,” Filoni told Esquire.
While Season 1 introduces Gideon Adlon as Devon Izara, a disillusioned Padawan whom Maul is attempting to corrupt, the renewal suggests this relationship is the long-term engine of the series, rather than a one-and-done encounter.
Set just one year after the end of The Clone Wars, Shadow Lord is the missing link fans have wanted for a decade. It explains how the broken creature we saw at the end of the war became the sophisticated head of Crimson Dawn. By greenlighting Season 2 now, Filoni is signaling that Maul’s rebuilding phase is a saga, not a sprint.
On April 6th, one of Star Wars most enigmatic and iconic villains will return to the galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord. Set during the Reign of the Empire era, the 10-episode animated series will serve as a bridge, connecting the former Sith Lord’s adventures in Star Wars: The Clone Wars to his surprise appearance in Solo: A Star Wars Story where he’s revealed as the shadowaster of Crimson Dawn.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of the terrifying darksider or looking to meet him for the first time, The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord is exactly what you need.
Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace
The ongoing fascination with Maul began in 1998 when the menacing Sith and his double-bladed lightsaber debuted in the first trailer for The Phantom Menace. The tattooed Zabrak remained front and center in Lucasfilm’s marketing for the film and in its line of action figures.
Though his role in the film fell short of expectations, his duel with Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi became a pivot point for the fate of the galaxy. After suffering a particularly bad case of being cut in half by Kenobi, it seemed Maul’s role as a disposable pawn of Darth Sidious had come to an end. Thankfully, however, that was not the case.
George Lucas had originally planned to have Maul return in his sequel trilogy where he would be featured as “the godfather of crime in the universe” with his apprentice, Darth Talon, at his side. While that obviously never happened, Star Wars: The Clone Wars slowly started Maul on that path, allowing for Maul-Shadow Lord to really bring the Creator’s original vision to life.
Definitely one of the hardest things we’ve had to do on the show is resurrect Darth Maul.
-Dave Filoni
By design, each season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars was broken into arcs. So while it should go without saying that any Star Wars fan should eventually watch the entire series, you can prep for Maul-Shadow Lord by watching 5 arcs…and reading (or reading about) one that didn’t make it to the small screen.
Witches and Monsters (Season 3, episodes 12–14). Runtime: 69 minutes.
The Siege of Mandalore (Season 7, episodes 9–12). Runtime: 102 minutes.
Arc Title
Season & Episode Numbers
Total Runtime
Key Narrative Focus
Witches & Monsters
S3: E12, E13, E14
~69 mins
The Nightsisters & Savage’s transformation.
Darth Maul Returns
S4: E19, E20, E21, E22
~90 mins
The Dathomir Massacre & Maul’s rebirth.
Shadow Collective
S5: E1, E14, E15, E16
~92 mins
Building the Empire & taking Mandalore.
Ahsoka’s Journey
S7: E7, E8
~48 mins
The Pyke Syndicate & the Nite Owls.
Siege of Mandalore
S7: E9, E10, E11, E12
~102 mins
The fall of Maul & the Rise of the Empire.
TOTAL BINGE
17 Episodes
~6 hrs 41 mins
In total, the 17 episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars will take up 6 hours and 41 minutes of your time. An easy one-day binge!
Where to Watch: All episodes are available to stream on Disney+.
Binge Strategy: If you start this list on the morning of April 6th, you can finish the entire “Shadow Lord” backstory just in time for the series premiere that evening!
Witches and Monsters
The Witches and Monsters arc is arguably the most essential piece of backstory if you’ve never watched the beloved animated series. It spins a dark, gothic fantasy in the galaxy far, far away, telling the tragic origins of Maul and his brother, Savage Opress.
The Nightsisters use a different kind of Dark Side. It’s not just the Sith philosophy; it’s more ancient, more primal. It’s witchcraft. Mother Talzin is really the puppet master here. She’s playing Dooku and Ventress against each other, and Savage is just the tool she uses to do it.
-Katie Lucas
The arc establishes the power of Dathomirian Night Sister magick and reveals that Maul is alive in the Outer Rim. It also highlights the volatile nature of Sith apprenticeships and the Rule of Two, explaining why Maul was ultimately discarded. Maul’s eventual relationship with his brother also becomes key to understanding his transition from a solitary assassin to a leader of his own criminal empire.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 3, Episode 12, “Nightsisters” (20 BBY)
Galactic showdown! In a fierce battle for survival, the Republic and Separatist armies have clashed in the distant Sullust system. Count Dooku’s most cunning assassin, Asajj Ventress, leads the vicious attack….
Betrayed by her master, Asajj Ventress survives an assassination attempt by Count Dooku and returns to her homeworld of Dathomir to seek the help of the clan of the Nightsisters in her plot for revenge.
-Official episode synopsis via Star wars.com
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 3, Episode 13, “Monster” (20 BBY)
A bid for revenge! Betrayed and left for dead by Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress has begun a deadly game with her former Master, launching a secret assassination attempt against him with the help of her kin, the mysterious Nightsisters.
Deceived into thinking the Jedi were behind the recent attack, Dooku has traveled across the galaxy to enlist the Nightsisters in his quest for vengeance….
Asajj Ventress and the Nightsisters plot their revenge against Count Dooku, selecting a warrior from a village on the far side of Dathomir and using dark magic to transform him into their brutal servant.
-Official episode synopsis via Starwars.com
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 3, Episode 14, “Witches of the Mist” (20 BBY)
Mysterious deaths! Unknown to the Jedi, a new threat has unleashed on the galaxy: Savage Opress, a pawn in the dangerous game between Count Dooku and his former assassin, Ventress.
The victims of his brutal massacre on the planet of Devaron are being returned to the Jedi Temple for evaluation. It’s up to the Jedi Council to find this mysterious killer, and eradicate him….
After surveillance footage reveals a Dathomirian male slaughtering Jedi, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are sent to track down the monstrous Savage Opress.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
Runtime: 1 hour and 9 minutes
Darth Maul Returns
The connective tissue that makes his later rise to power possible, this arc transitions Maul from a broken, half-mad scavenger to a wily strategist.
Driven by Mother Talzin’s vision, Savage Opress travels to the junk planet Lotho Minor where he finds a creature living in the literal and figurative bowels of the world. Twelve years of isolation and hatred have left Maul a shattered shell of his former self—he has no memory of his name, possesses a makeshift spider-like lower body made of scrap metal drawn to him by the Force and speaks only in crazed riddles.
Savage brings Maul back to Dathomir, where Mother Talzin performs a powerful ritual to purge the madness from his mind. She replaces his scrap-metal legs with biomechanical limbs. And for the first time since Kenobi bisected him on Naboo, Maul is whole—not just physically, but mentally. His singular focus returns: revenge.
The arc provides Maul with his own agency, freeing him from the puppet string of Sleepy Sheev Palpatine. It also cements the deep, personal hatred that drives Maul’s actions throughout the rest of the series, as his rivalry with Kenobi takes center stage. Though Maul is only present in the final two episodes, the entire four-episode arc is worth the time.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 4, Episode 19, “Massacre” (20 BBY)
Sinister forces on the move! Asajj Ventress has suffered a humiliating betrayal at the hands of her own assassin, Savage Opress. Having gone into hiding, she now has no choice but to seek sanctuary with the Nightsisters of Dathomir….
Count Dooku is determined to have revenge against the Nightsisters of Dathomir after their betrayal. General Grievous launches an all-out droid attack against the magic-wielding witches, while Mother Talzin and Asajj Ventress lead the defense with all the dark powers at their command.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 4, Episode 20, “Bounty” (20 BBY)
Abandoned! After an assassination attempt by his forsaken apprentice, Asajj Ventress, Count Dooku launches a brutal counterattack against the Nightsisters, massacring the entire clan. Forced into exile, Ventress wanders far into the Outer Rim, among the castaways and vagabonds of the galaxy, seeking her new life that was foretold by Mother Talzin….
Forced into exile, an aimless Asajj Ventress joins a team of bounty hunters under the leadership of young Boba Fett. On an alien world, they undertake a dangerous but profitable mission that tests the strength of Asajj’s character.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 4, Episode 21, “Brothers” (20 BBY)
A darkness awakes! Count Dooku’s bitter betrayal of his former apprentice Asajj Ventress resulted in the creation of a new menace in the galaxy: Savage Opress. Caught in a deadly game of revenge between Ventress and Dooku, Savage barely escaped the carnage.
Beaten and alone, he returned to Mother Talzin, his creator, who gave him a new quest: to pursue his long-lost brother….
Savage Opress is on a quest to find his long-lost brother, Maul. After more than a decade since Maul’s gruesome encounter with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Savage voyages into the depths of the twisted planet Lotho Minor to find whatever became of the fallen Sith Lord.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 4, Episode 22, “Revenge” (20 BBY)
Brothers reunited! Darth Maul, the sinister Sith thought to have been destroyed so many years ago by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, was found alive by his brother, Savage Opress, and taken back to Mother Talzin on Dathomir.
Though Darth Maul’s memory has yet to be fully restored, his need for vengeance has awakened, more powerful than ever….
Savage and Maul, now reunited, pursue Obi-Wan Kenobi in search of revenge, and the Jedi Knight finds himself forced to unite with a surprising ally to defend himself.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.con
Runtime: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Shadow Collective
Following a narrow escape from the Jedi, Maul and Savage are found drifting in space by the Death Watch, a group of Mandalorian fundamentalists led by Pre Vizsla. Recognizing a shared hatred for Obi-Wan Kenobi and the current pacifist government of Mandalore, they form an uneasy alliance.
Realizing that to topple the Jedi and the Sith he needs more than just a brother–he needs an army–Maul becomes a warlord. Through a mix of brutal combat and intimidation, he forcibly recruits the galaxy’s most powerful criminal organizations: The Black Sun, The Pyke Syndicate and The Hutt Clan.
Maul orchestrates a false flag operation, directing the criminal syndicates to attack Mandalore’s capital. Pre Vizsla and the Death Watch step in to save the day, earning Vizsla the public’s support, allowing him to overthrow Duchess Satine Kryze. When Vizsla betrays the brothers, Maul escapes and challenges Vizsla to a duel to the death for leadership of the Death Watch. After executing Vizsla with the Darksaber, Maul lays claim to the blade and the throne of Mandalore.
Maul draws Kenobi to Mandalore and kills Satine in front of him, mocking the Jedi for his commitment to a code that couldn’t save the woman he loved. However, Maul’s rapid rise creates a disturbance in the Force so great that Sleepy Sheev personally travels to Mandalore to deal with his former apprentice. Sidious views Maul not as a threat to his life, but as a rival to his power and in a brutal duel against Maul and Savage Oppress, kills the latter while taunting the former, who he now holds captive, telling him, “I have use for you.”
Lore Sidebar: The History of the Darksaber
Fans of The Mandalorian will be familiar with the black-bladed saber but for Maul, it wasn’t a heirloom; it was a stolen trophy that cemented his rule over the underworld.
The Origin: Tarre Vizsla
The Darksaber was forged over 1,000 years ago by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian ever inducted into the Jedi Order. After his death, the Jedi kept the blade in their Temple until members of House Vizsla “liberated” it during the fall of the Old Republic. For generations, it served as a symbol of leadership: whoever wields the blade by right of combat has a claim to lead all of Mandalore.
Maul’s Claim
In Star Wars: TheClone Wars, the blade belonged to Pre Vizsla, the leader of Death Watch. Maul realized that the Mandalorians would never follow a “foreigner” unless he held their most sacred symbol. By challenging Vizsla to a duel and executing him with his own blade, Maul became the first non-Mandalorian to win the Darksaber in ritual combat.
Where is the blade during “Shadow Lord”?
In the timeline of the new series, set after The Clone Wars, Maul still possesses the Darksaber. While he eventually loses it–leading to it being found by Sabine Wren in Star Wars Rebels–during the Shadow Lord era, it is his primary weapon and the badge of office for his Shadow Collective.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 5, Episode 1, “Revival” (19 BBY)
Death and destruction! Darth Maul and Savage Opress spread chaos as they descend on the Outer Rim. After rescuing his brother from despair, Savage and Maul murder and pillage at every turn. Fueled by rage and vengeance, they search for meaning in their new alliance as reports of their brutal attacks spread across the galaxy….
Fueled by vengeance and rage, the newly reunited brothers Savage Opress and Maul spread terror and violence across the galaxy.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 5, Episode 14, “Eminence” (19 BBY)
Evil alliance! Darth Maul and Savage Opress escape Obi-Wan Kenobi’s assault once again. With their plan to build a crime organization in peril, the brothers’ fate is about to be changed forever as they drift barely alive, through unknown space…..
Savage and Maul forge an alliance with Death Watch to target a common enemy: Obi-Wan Kenobi.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 5, Episode 15, “Shades of Reason” (19 BBY)
Villainy swells! With an army of the galaxy’s most vicious criminals, Darth Maul and Savage Opress conspire with Pre Vizsla and the Death Watch to topple Duchess Satine, ruler of Mandalore. While the conspirators prepare to attack the Mandalorian capital Sundari from a base on Zanbar, the fate of 2,000 other neutral systems is under threat as Darth Maul moves closer to establishing a vast criminal empire….
Backed by the criminal underworld, the Sith and Death Watch launch an attack on Mandalore.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 5, Episode 16, “The Lawless” (19 BBY)
Neutral star systems in peril! Darth Maul and Savage Opress command the planet Mandalore through the puppet Prime Minister, Almec, while they expand their criminal enterprise. With the Death Watch removed from power, and the Jedi unaware of the villainous plot, nothing stands in the way of Darth Maul’s vision for a vast criminal empire.
We now find Duchess Satine imprisoned, as her few remaining loyal subjects make a desperate attempt to rescue her….
Using Duchess Satine as bait, Darth Maul lures Obi-Wan into a trap.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
Runtime: 1 hour and 32 minutes
Son of Dathomir
Originally designed as an arc for Season 6, the story was released by Dark Horse as a 4-issue comic series in 2014 after the show’s initial cancellation. It was republished by Marvel Comics in 2017.
Following his defeat on Mandalore, Maul is imprisoned and tortured by Darth Sidious and Count Dooku in a secret facility. However, his Mandalorian Super Commandos free him from prison, setting the stage for a wild war between Force users.
Reinforced by Dathomirian Nightbrothers, the Shadow Collective goes to war against Dooku and General Grievous on Ord Mantell. Maul capture Dooku and Grievous, hoping to achieve his ultimate goal is of luring Sidious out into the open so Mother Talzin can drain his life force and possess his body.
On Dathomir, a massive duel featuring Maul and Mother Talzin–who initially possesses Dooku–Sidious and Grievous. To save her son, Mother Talzin sacrifices the last of her spirit to allow Maul to escape. General Grievous delivers the killing blow to Talzin, effectively wiping out the Nightsisters.
Ahsoka’s Journey
Ahaoka Tano plays a major role in Maul’s arc in Season 7 of The Clone Wars with the two discarded apprentices eventually facing off on Mandalore. Following her departure from the Jedi Order, Ahsoka crashes her speeder bike in the underworld of Coruscant. She is taken in by two sisters, Trace and Rafa Martez, who are struggling to survive in the crime-ridden lower levels. For the first time, Ahsoka sees the galaxy through the eyes of ordinary citizens who feel abandoned—and even harmed—by the Jedi’s involvement in the war.
In a desperate bid for credits, the sisters take a job transporting spice for the Pyke Syndicate. Ahsoka joins them to keep them safe, hiding her Jedi past. When the deal goes south, they are imprisoned on the planet Oba Diah. Here, Ahsoka realizes that the Pykes aren’t just local thugs—they are a massive organization with ties to a mysterious shadow leader: Maul.
While escaping the Pyke stronghold, Ahsoka spots three hooded figures observing the Syndicate: Bo-Katan Kryze and members of the Mandalorian Nite Owls. They have been tracking Maul’s criminal activities and realize that Ahsoka is their best chance at regaining Mandalore. After helping the Martez sisters return to Coruscant, Bo-Katan approaches Ahsoka with an offer: help the Mandalorians take down Maul. Realizing she can still do good in the galaxy without being a Jedi, Ahsoka accepts, setting her on a collision course with the former Sith.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 7, Episode 7, “Dangerous Debt” (19 BBY)
Prisoners of the Pykes! Ahsoka Tano has teamed up with the Martez sisters, who live in the underworld of the city-planet Coruscant. Struggling to make ends meet, Rafa Martez scored a job running a spice shipment from the planet Kessel. Tempers flared when Ahsoka realized the spice was being sold to the Pykes, a powerful crime syndicate. As Ahsoka and Rafa argue, Trace Martez dumped the spice, hoping to end the dispute. With no shipment to deliver, the three attempted to deceive the Pykes and failed.
We now find them imprisoned deep within a fortress on the planet Oba Diah….
Captured by the Pyke Syndicate, Ahsoka and the Martez sisters attempt a daring escape.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 7, Episode 8, “Together Again” (19 BBY)
Prisoners in peril! Former Jedi apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, befriended two sisters, Trace and Rafa Martez, who grew up in the underworld of Coruscant. After learning that the sisters blamed the Jedi Knights for the death of their parents, Ahsoka must decide if she’s willing to reveal her Jedi past and use her skills to aid in their escape.
Fearing her new friends will feel betrayed by this revelation, Ahsoka is left with a difficult choice….
Captured by the Pykes once more, Ahsoka and the Martez sisters are running out of options.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
Runtime: 48 minutes
The Siege of Mandalore
Sensing that the galaxy is on the brink of a cataclysmic shift, Maul returns to Mandalore and orchestrates a final stand, hoping to lure Anakin and Obi-Wan to the planet. He plans to kill Anakin, believing it will rob Sidious of his prized pupil and prevent the rise of the Empire.
Instead of Anakin, the Republic sends Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex with a division of the 501st. Maul and Ahsoka engage in an absolutely epic duel, during which Maul tries to recruit Ahsoka, warning her that the Jedi are already lost and Darth Sidious is about to win. Ahsoka refuses, eventually capturing Maul just as Order 66 is given.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 7, Episode 9, “Old Friends Not Forgotten” (19 BBY)
Outer Rim under siege! Separatist forces have launched a major offensive. Led by the evil droid General Grievous, Republic forces are pushed to the brink. In response to this overwhelming attack, the Jedi Council has dispatched its Generals, sending them far from the Core Worlds to bolster the beleaguered clones. On the distant planet of Yerbana, we find Commander Cody of the 212th in desperate need of reinforcements….
The Siege of Mandalore begins, and Ahsoka turns to Anakin and Obi-Wan for help.
-Official episode synopsis via Star Wars.com
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 7, Episode 10, “The Phantom Apprentice” (19 BBY)
The battle for Mandalore continues, and Ahsoka finds herself face to face with Maul.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 7, Episode 11, “Shattered” (19 BBY)
Maul is captured and the Siege of Mandalore is won. But evil lurks elsewhere, and the galaxy will never be the same.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 7, Episode 12, “Victory and Death” (19 BBY)
In the wake of Order 66, Ahsoka and Rex must work together to survive.
-Official episode synopsis via StarWars.com
As the Imperial Era begins, Maul escapes into hyperspace after yet another duel with Ahsoka. It’s been reported that Star Wars:Maul-Shadow Lord will pick up one year after the events of this episode, with the primary setting believed to be 17 BBY. For timeline purposes, Solo: A Star Wars Story takes place in 13 BBY and Maul’s death in Tatooine as seen in Star Wars Rebels, occurs in 2 BBY. That four year gap before Solo, gives Lucasfilm plenty of runway to produce multiple seasons of Maul-Shadow Lord.
Runtime: 1 hour and 42 minutes
About Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord
An all-new animated series from Lucasfilm Animation, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, will premiere on Disney+ April 6, 2026. Two episodes will premiere each week, with the final two airing on the ultimate Star Wars holiday, May the 4th.
Set after the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, this pulpy adventure finds Maul plotting to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire. There, he crosses paths with a disillusioned young Jedi Padawan who could be the apprentice he is seeking to aid him in his relentless pursuit for revenge.
-Official synopsis for Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord
The voice cast includes Sam Witwer as Maul, Gideon Adlon as Devon Izara, Oscar® nominee Wagner Moura as Brander Lawson, Richard Ayoade as Two-Boots, Dennis Haysbert as Master Eeko-Dio-Daki, Chris Diamantopoulos as Looti Vario, Charlie Bushnell as Rylee Lawson, Vanessa Marshall as Rook Kast, David C. Collins as Spybot, A.J. LoCascio as Marrok, and Steve Blum as Icarus.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is created by Dave Filoni, based on Star Wars and characters created by George Lucas. The series is developed by Dave Filoni and Matt Michnovetz. Brad Rau is supervising director. The executive producers are Dave Filoni, Athena Yvette Portillo, Matt Michnovetz, Brad Rau, Carrie Beck, and Josh Rimes. Alex Spotswood is the co-executive producer.
The galaxy may be tightening under Emperor Palpatine’s grip, but the underworld is starting to push back. Lucasfilm has officially released the second, even grittier trailer for Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, and it confirms that this isn’t just a survival story—it’s a declaration of war.
Launching April 6 on D+, the 10-episode series finds Sam Witwer returning as the former Sith on Janix, a planet supposedly untouched by the Imperial reach, determined to have his revenge on Darth Sidious and the Empire.
The new footage leans heavily into the “pulpy, noir” aesthetic that showrunner Dave Filoni has been teasing. Maul isn’t looking to topple the Emperor just yet. He’s looking for a “weapon” to exact his revenge for his former master’s betrayal. The trailer gives us a closer look at Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon), a disillusioned Padawan on the run after Order 66. Maul’s pitch to her is simple: “The Empire is our common enemy.” But as a voice warns in the teaser, “Maul will never be our ally.” The Empire isn’t ignoring Janix for long. We see the Eleventh Brother, aka The Crow, and Marrok, last seen in Ahsoka, leading the hunt to “lock this planet down”.
With a visual style that feels like a heavy-metal evolution of The Clone Wars, Maul–Shadow Lord looks to be giving us a Star Wars we haven’t quite seen before to kick off the Age of Maul!
Sigourney Weaver’s role in The Mandalorian and Groguhas proven fertile ground for theorizing about her character’s potential for betrayal. Reports indicate that her Colonel Ward is the one who pushes Mando in the direction of Jeremy Allen White’s Rotta the Hutt, effectively using the Mandalorian as a heat sink to draw out rival syndicates while she quietly consolidates power for the Imperial Shadow Council. But thanks to a massive new feature in the May 2026 issue of Empire Magazine, we finally have the lore bomb we’ve been waiting for and some compelling evidence she may indeed be one of the good guys!
It turns out Ward isn’t just a new face in the New Republic—she is a foundational piece of the Rebellion’s history who, quite literally, went through it alongside the galaxy’s most sacred legends.
“We Go Way Back”: The Leia Connection
The headline-grabbing quote from the Empire feature comes directly from Weaver herself. When asked about her character’s history before the events of the film, Weaver dropped a bombshell: “We go way back,” she said, referring to her character’s relationship with Princess Leia Organa.
According to Lucasfilm President–and the architect of the New Republic era–Dave Filoni, Colonel Ward belongs to an elite cohort of female leaders who were instrumental in dismantling the Empire. Filoni explicitly named Ward in the same breath as Mon Mothma, Hera Syndulla, Amilyn Holdo, and Leia Organa.
As Filoni puts it, these women formed a “fearless backbone” of the Rebellion. They weren’t just politicians; they were “crack pilots” and “military leaders” who survived the darkest days of the Galactic Civil War. By placing Weaver‘s character in this specific group, Lucasfilm is instantly giving Colonel Ward a level of Rebel Cred that usually takes three seasons of a TV show to establish.
The “70s Unrest” Inspiration
One of the most interesting aspects of the interview is how Weaver connects her Star Wars debut to her own real-world history. She compared the energy of the early Rebellion to the social unrest of the 1970s—specifically the protests against the Vietnam War.
To be playing someone who is from that time, and from that history, who would have been a cohort of these guys, is a great honor. The ’70s, all the unrest, fighting against the [Vietnam] war. People had that sense of unity. It clicks into a whole thing for George Lucas, and I’m the same generation.
-Sigourney Weaver
George Lucas has stated in the past that he originally modeled the Rebel Alliance in part on the Viet Cong and the anti-war movement. By casting an icon of that exact cinematic era, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are tapping into the DNA of the original trilogy. Colonel Ward isn’t just a character; she’s a personification of the grit it took to topple an Empire.
So, how does a friendship with Leia Organa affect a movie about a Mandalorian and his foundling? It all comes down to trust.
In the film, Ward is the one who recruits Din Djarin for what Weaver describes as a “very tricky, very hard commission.” She chooses the Mandalorian not because the New Republic is lazy, but because she—as a veteran who has seen the true face of war—understands that the peace they currently enjoy is fragile, as Filoni so aggressively made clear in Season 1 of Ahsoka.
While the New Republic Senate, likely led by a frustrated Mon Mothm, is busy with bureaucracy, Ward is the action-oriented leader who knows that the Imperial Shadow Council is a cancer that needs to be cut out. Her history with Leia suggests she possesses that Organa-style pragmatism: sometimes you have to break the rules to save the galaxy.
While Filoni and Weaver are painting a beautiful picture of Rebel sisterhood, we cannot ignore the persistent rumors of a “Third Act Betrayal.”
If Ward is as close to the Rebel founding mothers as they say, her being a secret Imperial mole—or a First Order sympathizer—would be among the most devastating blow Lucasfilm has ever dealt to the fanbase. Imagine the fallout if the woman who “went way back” with Leia turns out to be the one who sells out Grogu to the Remnant.
Whether she’s a hero or a hidden villain, the choice to tie Ward to Leia is a nice touch of world-building. It gives the film an emotional anchor to the original trilogy and raises the stakes for everything Din Djarin is about to do.
If you think Sigourney Weaver joined the Star Wars universe just to play a generic mentor for Din Djarin, you may have been successfully misdirected by the Lucasfilm marketing machine. While the early promotional material paints her Colonel Ward as a hero of the Rebellion and a decorated leader of the Adelphi Rangers, emerging evidence has lead to theories that she is actually the ultimate Trojan Horse for the Imperial Remnant.
Weaver’s casting was originally reported under the character name “Colonel Bishop.” Given Weaver’s position as the OG Queen in the world of sci-fi, that name may well be portending a betrayal. Just as the android Bishop in Aliens subverted expectations about artificial persons, Weaver’s role in The Mandalorian and Grogu could subvert everything Mando thinks he knows about his new New Republic employers.
The core of the theory that Ward is a Traitor stems the nature of the missions she’s assigning. Reports indicate that Ward is the one who pushes Mando in the direction of Jeremy Allen White’s Rotta the Hutt, effectively using the Mandalorian as a heat sink to draw out rival syndicates while she quietly consolidates power for the Imperial Shadow Council.
Given the long form narrative that has unfolded over three seasons of The Mandalorian, such a betrayal could very well be more than just a theory—it would be the logical endpoint of the New Republic rot that was first introduced with the Elia Kane reveal on Coruscant. If Ward represents the cancer within the New Republic military, by the time the third act hits, Mando won’t just be fighting droids and Hutt mercenaries; he’ll be fighting the very woman who gave him his orders.
Don’t get attached to the idea of Sigourney Weaver as a New Republic icon. If she’s the woman who sells out the galaxy’s favorite duo, and the fallout from her betrayal is going to chart the course for the entire future of the MandoVerse… especially if it sets them on a collision course with Grand Admiral Thrawn.
We are officially two months away from the theatrical return of Star Wars, and while the marketing for The Mandalorian and Grogu is ramping up with shiny Empire Magazine covers and LEGO reveals, a new development behind the scenes is giving some fans a reason to pause.
A new listing from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has finally confirmed the screenwriting team for the May 22 release. While Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are the expected architects, a third name has appeared on the masthead: Noah Kloor.
The Boba Fett Connection
For those of you who don’t spend your nights memorizing the production credits of the Mandoverse, Kloor’s name carries a specific weight. He was a staff writer on every single episode of The Book of Boba Fett—a series that remains the most divisive entry in the New Republic era.
While Kloor‘s involvement is not necessarily an indicator of anything treacherous, Star Wars fans are Star Wars fans, after all. Kloor’s presence suggests that the movie may feel more like an event miniseries than a standalone cinematic epic and for a film that fans are already waxing negatively about, it may not be the way. On the other hand, bringing Kloor onto a project set to feature the Hutt twins–who debuted in The Book of Boba Fett–could simply be a smart move intended to ensure attention to continuity
For nearly three years, the promise of a “Biblical Epic” set 25,000 years before the Skywalker Saga has been the north star for Star Wars fans seeking something truly original. James Mangold, fresh off Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, was set to explore the very origins of the Force.
However, speaking on The Hot Mic (via SFFGazette.com), Jeff “the In” Sneider didn’t mince words when asked about the film’s status:
I heard this week actually. I just heard it. That’s like dead. I can’t say that conclusively, but it doesn’t sound good. I think Mangold is focused on that Timothée Chalamet heist movie is what I think. I think Swamp Thing could be after that.
-Jeff “The In” Sneider
If the report holds true, the primary culprits for the film’s demise would seem likely to ne creative differences and scheduling.
Mangold has spent the last year riding a massive wave of momentum following the Oscar-winning success of his Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. Mangold and star Timothée Chalamet have officially reteamed for a motocross heist thriller titled High Side. The project, described as “Heat meets Hell or High Water,” was picked up by Paramount in a massive bidding war. With High Side now moving into active production, it appears the timeline for a galaxy far, far away has simply run out of room. And, of course, there’s Mangold’s Swamp Thing lurking in the background.
Willimon’s involvement was seen as a guarantee of quality, bringing the same stylings to the Jedi origins that he brought to the Narkina 5 arc in Andor. However, news recently broke that Willimon has moved on to write a major Game of Thrones feature film for HBO, which, in hindsight, may have been the first major that the Jedi project was on life support.
For Star Wars fans, this story feels all too familiar. From Patty Jenkins‘ Rogue Squadron to the Kevin Feige-produced project, Lucasfilm has a documented history of announcing high-profile director-led films that never make it to the screen…or even into production. The studio’s pivot toward the Mandalorian and Grogu as their primary theatrical return signals a retreat to safe IP, which seems to be the way of things at the House of Mouse. A 25,000-year-old prequel about the origins of the Force was always a high-risk gamble. In a 2026 landscape where Disney is prioritizing guaranteed hits, a risky, mold-breaking epic like Dawn of the Jedi may have simply been too unconventional for Filoni.
For a year, Lucasfilm has tried to tell us that Ewan McGregor was only on the Ahsoka set to visit his wife, Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Following a recent revelation, it looks as though the visitor excuse may be running out of steam.
A YouTuber who worked on the Season 2 stunt team recently shared a look at official crew merchandise. When pressed about his favorite on-set moments, he dropped the bombshell: “When Ewan let me hold Ahsoka’s lightsaber.”
This lines up with long-standing rumors from Kristian Harloff that McGregor filmed scenes alongside Hayden Christensen and Ariana Greenblatt. We aren’t just getting an Anakin reunion; we are getting the full Clone Wars Trinity.
With Season 2 potentially leaning heavily into Mortis mythology, a Force-ghost reunion between Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka feels less like fan service and more like a narrative necessity to bring balance to Peridea.
This would be a big swing by Dave Filoni. By bringing Ewan back, Ahsoka Season 2 is positioning itself as the true spiritual successor to The Clone Wars finale.
The wait is officially over. Marvel Comics’ Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #1 hits shelves today, and if you were expecting a typical Sith-heavy power trip, you’re in for a surprise. Writer Benjamin Percy and artist Madibek Musabekov are using this five-issue prequel series to build a world that feels more Andor than Skywalker Saga.
Welcome to Janix
Percy has described the setting as “one part Gotham, one part Metropolis,” and the first issue doubles down on that noir aesthetic. We’re introduced to Captain Brander Lawson—a single-dad ex-bounty hunter turned cop—and his droid partner Two-Boots. It’s a police procedural with a lightsaber-shaped threat looming in the background.
Why This Isn’t “Just a Comic”
You don’t spend this much time and capital building a hyper-detailed, multi-layered city like Janix—with its own distinct law enforcement and political ecosystem—just for a 10-episode animated run and a comic tie-in.
Buzz has begun to circulate that Janix is being developed as a permanent fixture for the underworld corner of the galaxy. If the Maul: Shadow Lord series–premiering April 6–lands with fans, don’t be surprised if we see Janix transition into live-action sooner rather than later.
Fans should pay close attention to the background syndicates mentioned in Issue #1. Rumors suggest that names dropped here will tie directly into the live-action Shadow Council seen in The Mandalorian. Perhaps, By grounding the story in a police procedural format, Lucasfilm is testing the waters for more mature, gritty storytelling in animation.
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