By
Kevin Erdmann
Published Jan 31, 2026, 9:30 PM EST
Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
Add Us On
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
Although we already know where Darth Maul’s journey ultimately ends in the Star Wars timeline, the upcoming Maul: Shadow Lord series is still incredibly important. Set to release in just a few months, Shadow Lord promises to reveal new chapters in Maul's journey we've never seen before (and are absolutely crucial).
Following his presumed death in 1999's The Phantom Menace, the animated Clone Wars series revealed that Maul had survived being cut in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi through sheer force of will and the work of the dark side itself. Maul then became a major threat during the Clone Wars, culminating in the Siege of Mandalore.
That said, Maul's other major appearance was in Star Wars Rebels, with several years having passed since the Clone Wars' end. Keeping that in mind, here's why Shadow Lord is going to matter so much for Maul's Star Wars story.
Star Wars Rebels Revealed Darth Maul's True End 9 Years Ago, A Final Duel With Obi-Wan Kenobi
Star Wars Rebels Twin Suns Stephen Stanton as Obi Wan and Sam Witwer as Maul final duel
Star Wars Rebels revealed Darth Maul’s true end back in 2017 with the episode "Twin Suns." After years of searching, Maul finally finds Obi-Wan Kenobi on Tatooine, sensing his mission on the desert world and that he was protecting someone important (Luke Skywalker).
Naturally, this prompts Obi-Wan to ignite his lightsaber, granting Maul the duel he'd long desired. That said, Maul and Obi-Wan's duel was intentionally brief and altogether tragic. Kenobi delivers the killing strike after only three key blows before holding Maul as he dies, recognizing in his final moments that the one Obi-Wan is protecting will avenge them both by destroying the Sith.
Obi-Wan fights Maul in Star Wars Rebels
It's a huge Star Wars moment, one that defines Maul's entire life in tragedy, having been manipulated by the dark side from day one as Palpatine's pawn before ultimately being betrayed, while simultaneously being crushed by his own ambition/obsession.
However, there's still so much of Darth Maul's story that we don't yet know, explaining why Shadow Lord is so highly anticipated by Star Wars fans.
Why Shadow Lord Is Still So Important For Maul's Star Wars Journey
Shadow Lord still matters because we're finally going to see how Maul survived the Empire in the first place.
The series is set to explore Maul adapting to Imperial rule, evading Inquisitors as the Emperor wants him dead, while also attempting to rebuild power through the criminal underworld with Crimson Dawn. Major gaps will be filled in where Maul sought to carve out his own base of power in the galaxy he'd held onto for years before Rebels.
By the time Maul appears in Rebels, there's an implication that he's no longer leading Crimson Dawn, choosing instead to give in to his obsession, hunting Kenobi before going after his former master. As such, Shadow Lord can specifically show how and why Maul either gave up (or lost) his power in the underworld.
Screen Rant Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters
Dive into the world of movies and TV shows with Screen Rant, your source for news, reviews, and exclusive content. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.Shadow Lord is also teasing that Maul will attempt to take on a new apprentice with a Twi'lek Jedi survivor who may become Darth Talon from Legends. As such, whatever happens there will likely inform Maul's future attempts to make Ezra Bridger his apprentice in Rebels.
Regardless, it's evident that Shadow Lord will be absolutely crucial to explaining the true tragedy of Maul's Star Wars journey in full, a key middle chapter we've long been without.
Maul: Shadow Lord is set to begin streaming April 6th on Disney+.
Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord
Like Follow Followed Animation Fantasy Science Fiction Release Date April 6, 2026 Franchise(s) Star WarsCast
See All-
Sam Witwer
Maul
Expand
Collapse
-
Maul: Shadow Lord
-
Star Wars
Marvel Officially Confirms Doctor Doom Will Fight Ultron in Next Appearance
Naruto's Official Alternate Ending Replaces Kaguya With A Much Better Final Boss
Marvel Officially Confirms Wolverine's Design For The Avengers' New Appearance
