Maul (Sam Witwer) in Maul Shadow Lord
By
Kevin Erdmann
Published Feb 25, 2026, 10:40 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.
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Darth Maul's upcoming Star Wars series may bring back a major dark side villain. Set during the Dark Times of the Empire's rule, Shadow Lord will see Maul accumulating power within the criminal underworld and likely training a brand-new apprentice. As such, that training could very well motivate the return of a major figure from Maul's past.
Following some new comments from Maul actor Sam Witwer, an exciting new Star Wars theory has been formed suggesting that Shadow Lord may see the return of Savage Opress in some form (Maul's brother).
Sam Witwer Confirmed The Lasting Importance of Savage Opress In Shadow Lord (Maul's Brother)
In the penultimate issue of Star Wars Insider (via Star Wars Holocron), Sam Witwer revealed new insights into Maul's character during this unseen chapter of his life in the Star Wars timeline. This included some comments about Maul's brother Savage Opress, a major dark side villain during The Clone Wars who was instrumental in Maul's revival following his Phantom Menace defeat, eventually becoming his brother's first apprentice:
"He’s exploring who he is and also thinking about his brother, Savage Opress, his first apprentice and family. Did he treat him as well as he should’ve, considering how loyal Savage was? No. But now he’s finally assessing that and realizing, 'I failed him.'"
Clearly, it looks as though Maul's past with Savage will still have a solid impact in Shadow Lord. This will more than likely manifest when Maul attempts to take on Devon Izara, a former Jedi, as his new apprentice (potentially a canonical Darth Talon).
Ultimately, it's not hard to imagine Maul trying to correct mistakes made with Savage and the regrets of the past. That said, one has to wonder if Savage's role in Shadow Lord might be bigger than we realize.
How Savage Could Make An Appearance In Shadow Lord (Despite His Clone Wars Death)
Savage Oppress wields a double-bladed red lightsaber in Star Wars
During the Clone Wars, Savage Opress was killed by Darth Sidious on Mandalore, struck down when the Sith Master arrived to personally deal with Maul's rising power.
Even so, it would be fascinating to perhaps see Savage's spirit potentially haunting Maul during the Dark Time in a dark side Force vision, or even in key flashbacks to the brothers' time together during The Clone Wars, revealing unseen chapters we didn't get in the previous animated series.
While it may be a stretch, we should also consider the Nightsister magicks of Dathomir. Having been responsible for plenty of resurrections elsewhere in the Star Wars timeline, the power of the Nightsisters could be a means of bringing Maul's brother back, and we know Maul returned to Dathomir during the Dark Times.
After all, it was the Nightsisters' Mother Talzin who brought the brothers together in the first place, having empowered Savage with his great strength and restoring Maul's mind and body after Savage found his long-lost brother.
Whatever the exact vehicle may be for a return, hearing Clancy Brown voicing Savage Opress again would be amazing. It's also worth noting that Brown has appeared in more recent Star Wars projects like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka as other Star Wars characters, proving his continued connection to the Star Wars franchise and relationship with Lucasfilm.
At any rate, a potential return from Savage Opress in Maul - Shadow Lord should not be discounted so quickly ahead of the show's premiere.
Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord begins streaming April 6th on Disney+
Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord
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