Who Is Maul? Complete Maul – Shadow Lord Guide and Watch List

After lurking in the shadows of Star Wars for decades, Maul is finally getting the spotlight he deserves. Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is the next animated series from Lucasfilm Animation, premiering on Disney+ on April 6, 2026. Sam Witwer returns to voice Maul as he builds Crimson Dawn into the criminal organization we see in Solo: A Star Wars Story. To get you hyped for Shadow Lord, we look at when the series takes place, explore Maul’s complete canon backstory, and review the essentials watch list.

Quick Facts:

• When Does It Come Out: Maul – Shadow Lord debuts Monday, April 6, 2026, with two episodes coming out each week through May 4, 2026.
• When Is It Set: Shadow Lord takes place during the early days of the Galactic Empire between 19 and 10 BBY, sometime after Revenge of the Sith but before Solo: A Star Wars Story.
• What Is It About: Maul rebuilds his criminal syndicate and takes on a new apprentice while trying to escape the Galactic Empire’s Inquisitors.
• Who Is In It: Sam Witwer reprises his role as Maul with Gideon Adlon (Devon Izara), Wagner Moura (Captain Brander Lawson), and Richard Ayoade (Two-Boots) rounding out the lead voice cast.

What Is Maul – Shadow Lord?

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is a 10-episode animated series created by Dave Filoni for Disney+. It picks up after the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and follows Maul as he builds his criminal network in the early days of the Galactic Empire.

Produced by Lucasfilm Animation, it marks the first time Maul has ever been the lead of his own series. Told entirely from Maul’s perspective, it explores how he built his criminal empire after the Siege of Mandalore in The Clone Wars.

Cut off from his former master, Darth Sidious, Maul is a fugitive. Forced to start over, he sets his sights on Janix, a planet that’s stayed off the Empire’s radar.

Maul crosses paths with Devon Izara, a young Twi’lek Padawan who survived Order 66. Described as a disillusioned Jedi, she’s exactly the kind of Force-sensitive apprentice we have seen Maul eager to recruit in the past.

While casual Star Wars fans will likely enjoy the show, Maul – Shadow Lord builds on the storylines hardcore fans have been asking for since Solo: A Star Wars Story.

But Shadow Lord isn’t only about Maul’s crime syndicate.

The Inquisitors, the Empire’s Jedi hunters, will also play a major role. Marrok, the mysterious Inquisitor who appeared in Ahsoka and Tales of the Empire, shows up here in the earlier stages of his career. The Eleventh Brother, who we’ve seen in Tales of the Jedi, is also in the series.

When Does It Come Out?

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord premieres on Monday, April 6, 2026, on Disney+. There are 10 episodes total, with two episodes dropping every week until the two-part finale lands on Monday, May 4, 2026, known to many fans as May the Fourth or Star Wars Day.

Episode Title	Release Date
Episode One TBD Episode Two TBD	April 6, 2026
Episode Three TBD Episode Four TBD	April 13, 2026
Episode Five TBD Episode Six TBD	April 20, 2026
Episode Seven TBD Episode Eight	April 27, 2026
Episode Nine TBD Episode Ten TBD	May 4, 2026

When Does It Take Place?

Shadow Lord takes place roughly one year after the end of the Clone Wars while the Empire is still cementing its grip on the galaxy. However, we don’t have specifics on exactly what that means.

What we do know is that it follows the Prequel Trilogy, which is set between 32 and 19 BBY. The series will likely take place before 10 BBY, the time of the Solo film, since it deals with Maul building the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate.

It takes place well before the Original and Sequel trilogies, which take place between 0 and 4 ABY and 34 and 35 ABY respectively. It is also set before The Mandoverse, which takes place in approximately 9 ABY.

The series could run concurrently to The Bad Batch, starting in 19 BBY and running through 18 BBY or later. As such, it would take place at the same time only on a different planet.

The Maul series could also take place between 18 and 16 BBY, around the time of Asajj Ventress’ arc in Tales of the Underworld.

Similarly, it could also overlap with the Tales of the Jedi episode “Resolve,” which is set somewhere between 18 and 5 BBY.

Is Devon Izara Meant to Be Darth Talon?

Devon Izara is not confirmed to be Darth Talon, but the similarities seem intentional. Fans have been quick to draw a comparison between the two characters.

Darth Talon is a red Twi’lek Sith who serves in Darth Krayt’s Galactic Empire generations after the original trilogy. She first appeared in the now-Legends comics series Star Wars: Legacy, written by John Ostrander with art by Jan Duursema.

Talon appears in 19 of the 50 issues released between 2006 and 2010, as well as the six-issue spin-off series Star Wars: Legacy — War.

George Lucas himself reportedly thought about pairing Darth Talon with Maul in the video game Battle of the Sith Lords. When the creative team highlighted the generational gap between the characters, Lucas suggested changing to a descendant of Maul to fit the timeline.

Lucas also thought about using Maul and Talon in his version of the Sequel Trilogy. Maul was supposed to be the arch-villain, akin to Palpatine, with Talon serving as the primary enforcer, like Darth Vader.

Both the game and Lucas’ trilogy went unproduced after The Walt Disney Company purchased Lucasfilm in 2012.

Announcement and Development

Reports of a Maul-focused animated series first surfaced as far back as late 2021. Brad Rau, supervising director on The Bad Batch, hinted at the series during a February 2024 interview, saying another “Clone Wars universe” continuation was already in development.

The official reveal came on April 18, 2025, at Star Wars Celebration Japan. During the panel celebrating Lucasfilm Animation’s 20th anniversary, Dave Filoni and Athena Portillo took the stage to make it official.

Sam Witwer joined them live to confirm his return as Maul. Fans in the room got to see an exclusive trailer. By most accounts, it received the biggest reaction of the entire event.

Filoni began developing the series after Lucasfilm Animation staff returned to work following the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing back much of the core team from previous projects, including Matt Michnovetz and Rau.

Witwer was brought in about a year before the public announcement, working more closely with the creative team than he had on any previous project. He reviewed scripts, contributed to early character discussions, and gave input on the animation itself.

Witwer later described Rau as Filoni’s “apprentice” on the project. He went on to explain that Filoni created the series and shaped its direction, whereas Rau handled the day-to-day production.

The Questions That Drove the Show

According to Witwer, the whole development process started by going back through Maul’s prior appearances and identifying the things that mattered most to the character that audiences hadn’t fully seen yet. A few specific questions drove the writing.

Why did Maul stay silent about Palpatine’s true identity as a Sith Lord, even after being discarded and replaced?

What does it feel like to be someone forged by a world of dark side knights and ancient grudges, now living under a bureaucratic Empire that Witwer described as “sucking the magic and life and color out of the galaxy”?

And when the Jedi are gone, what does he do with himself? Witwer compared that last question to the Joker waking up to find Batman is dead. The whole framework for his hatred has been pulled out from under him.

The show is expected to take a hard look at how Maul approaches training Devon as his apprentice, and how that differs from the cold, transactional way Palpatine and other Sith have trained their apprentices in the past.

Witwer summed up the overall tone of the series as “bad guys versus worse guys,” and was clear that they’re not trying to redeem Maul. He’s not on a road to becoming a hero. The show is interested in exploring him, not softening him.

The Full Cast

Sam Witwer returns as the voice of Maul, a role he’s held since The Clone Wars. Witwer got his start in Star Wars voicing Galen Marek in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. He has since built a prolific resume of credits including Rebels, The Force Awakens, Resistance, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Jedi: Fallen Order, and many more.

Devon Izara, the disillusioned young Twi’lek Jedi Padawan at the center of the story, is voiced by Gideon Adlon. She is known for her roles in Blockers and The Craft: Legacy. Adlon is the daughter of Pamela Adlon, best known as the voice of Bobby Hill in King of the Hill.

Wagner Moura voices Captain Brander Lawson, a respected police captain on Janix. Moura is a Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee for his role in The Secret Agent.

Richard Ayoade rounds out the main cast, voicing Two-Boots (2B0T), Captain Lawson’s droid partner. Ayoade previously voiced Q9-0 in The Mandalorian.

Vanessa Marshall reprises her The Clone Wars role as Rook Kast, the Mandalorian warrior and longtime Maul ally. Marshall also voiced Hera Syndulla in Rebels.

Marrok, the Jedi-hunter who first appeared in Ahsoka and Tales of the Empire, is also set to appear, voiced by A.J. LoCascio. Shadow Lord gives us an earlier look at the mysterious character. LoCascio also voices Gambit in X-Men ’97.

Best known for his long-running role in 24, Dennis Haysbert voices Master Eeko-Dio-Daki. Although not confirmed, the character appears to be a Jedi Master.

Chris Diamantopoulos voices Looti Vario. He’s known for playing Russ Hanneman in Silicon Valley, Mike Byrne in the 2024 Amazon series The Sticky, and Sotto Voce in Red Notice, among others.

Charlie Bushnell voices Rylee Lawson, a character who shares a surname with Captain Lawson. Bushnell is known for Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Star Wars animation veteran Steve Blum voices Icarus. He previously voiced Zeb Orrelios in Rebels and The Mandalorian, as well as Wolverine across several Marvel animated projects.

David W. Collins voices Spybot. Collins is a longtime Lucasfilm sound designer who has contributed voices to multiple Star Wars properties, including The Force Unleashed and Jedi: Fallen Order video games and series like Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

While the Eleventh Brother is confirmed for the series, it is unclear whether Clancy Brown will reprise the role he originated in Tales of the Jedi. Brown previously performed Savage Opress in The Clone Wars, Ryder Azadi in Rebels and Ahsoka, and Burg in The Mandalorian.

The Creative Team

Dave Filoni created the series and serves as executive producer. Considered by some the architect of the Star Wars animated universe, he now holds the title of Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer.

Matt Michnovetz serves as head writer and executive producer, bringing experience from The Clone Wars, Rebels, The Bad Batch, and Tales of the Jedi.

Brad Rau is the supervising director and executive producer, having served in the same role on The Bad Batch. Alex Spotswood joins as co-executive producer.

Athena Yvette Portillo serves as executive producer and VP of Lucasfilm Animation. Carrie Beck and Josh Rimes round out the executive producer team.

On the production side, Steward Lee returns as episodic director from previous Star Wars animated series.

Joel Aron leads cinematography and VFX, Keith Kellogg serves as animation supervisor, and Sean and Deana Kiner return as composers. David W. Collins handles sound design, and the animation is produced by CGCG, Inc.

The Animation Style

The show builds on the Clone Wars visual style but takes it even further. Producer Athena Portillo said the team pushed themselves further than they had on any previous series.

She attributed it to Filoni pushing the crew out of their comfort zone and telling them to stop playing it safe.

Cinematography lead Joel Aron went back to practical techniques, including painting brush strokes on physical glass and shooting them for use in the animation.

He also created matte paintings on real canvases instead of using digital tools, much like the Original Trilogy.

The show also films in a widescreen 2.39:1 aspect ratio, giving it a cinematic feel that’s new for the animated series lineup.

The Prequel Comics Tie-In

The Maul series is also getting a Marvel Comics prequel series, Star Wars: Shadow of Maul. The five-issue series is written by Benjamin Percy with art by Madibek Musabekov.

The Maul creative team shared scripts and episodes with Percy and Musabekov, allowing them to create a true companion piece to the show, not just a tie-in.

The exact story is unclear, but the comic appears to be set in 19 BBY or later and will introduce the planet Janix along with Captain Brander Lawson and Two-Boots. But with Maul in the title, we would expect to see him as well.

The first issue comes out March 4, 2026, with the second slated for April 8 and the third scheduled for May 13. The release date for the remaining two issues is currently unknown.

Check your local comic book shop or library for new issues. They will also be released through the Marvel Unlimited app and other digital comic book retailers.

How Shadow Lord Fits Into 2026’s Star Wars Lineup

Maul – Shadow Lord kicks off what’s shaping up to be a packed year of Star Wars content. The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters May 22, 2026.

Also expected in 2026 are Ahsoka Season 2 and the Visions spin-off show Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi.

Lucasfilm has yet to confirm dates for both series, but fans are speculating that a teaser for season two of Ahsoka will come out in May.

Who Is Maul?

If you haven’t followed Maul’s story since The Phantom Menace, we’ve got you covered. Here’s the full canon version of his history, from his origins on Dathomir all the way to his time on Tatooine.

Star Wars has its own way of counting years, with Star Wars: A New Hope considered year zero. All of Maul’s life takes place earlier in the timeline, “before the Battle of Yavin” or BBY. See our What Does ABY and BBY Mean in Star Wars? guide for a more detailed explanation.

SPOILER WARNING: This section contains spoilers about Maul’s backstory and appearances in The Clone Wars, The Phantom Menace, Solo, and Rebels. If you want to avoid spoilers, skip ahead to our spoiler-free watch list.

A Son of Dathomir

Maul was born in 54 BBY on Dathomir, a dark Force-rich planet shrouded in red mist and home to the Nightsisters, a coven of dark side witches, and the Nightbrothers, powerful male warriors who serve them. His mother was Mother Talzin, the most powerful of the Nightsisters and their matriarch. He had two brothers: Savage Opress and Feral.

Darth Sidious, secretly operating as Senator Sheev Palpatine, had forged an alliance with Talzin to exchange dark side knowledge around 40 BBY. When he spotted young Maul’s extraordinary Force potential, he took the boy and raised him as a Sith apprentice, betraying Talzin in the process. Maul left his home as a child and never really got to choose what he became.

Over the next eight years, Sidious shaped him into a weapon. He drilled Maul in lightsaber combat, filled him with hatred for the Jedi, and even brought him to Malachor, an ancient Sith world, to breathe in the ashes of Sith warriors killed by Jedi. The intention was to plant rage so deep it would never leave him.

Maul’s early history is covered in portions of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the comics Star Wars: Darth Maul, Star Wars: Darth Maul – Black, White & Red, and Age of Republic – Darth Maul. Sam Witwer voiced Maul in The Clone Wars.

Hunting Queen Amidala

In 32 BBY, Darth Maul tracked Queen Amidala after she escaped the Trade Federation’s blockade of Naboo. Darth Sidious told him to capture the Queen and kill the Jedi protecting her.

After a brief encounter on Tatooine, Darth Maul faced both Qui-Gon and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi on Naboo. He killed Qui-Gon, a moment that altered the course of young Anakin Skywalker’s life.

Fighting through grief and rage, Obi-Wan then cut him in half through the waist and sent him falling into what everyone assumed was his death.

He was portrayed physically by Ray Park and voiced by Peter Serafinowicz. Maul had very few lines in the film, acting as Sidious’s enforcer but lacking true character.

Survival on Lotho Minor

It was assumed that Maul died on Naboo. Instead, he survived through all-consuming hate.

Maul fell into Naboo’s garbage systems and was eventually dumped into space, drifting until he landed on Lotho Minor, a junk planet in the Outer Rim. He spent over a decade there in a state of madness, barely aware of who he was.

To move around, he constructed crude spider-like legs from the scrap around him. The great Sith warrior had become something barely recognizable, held together only by his hatred for Obi-Wan Kenobi.

In 20 BBY, Mother Talzin discovered her son was still alive and sent his brother Savage Opress to find him. Savage located Maul on Lotho Minor and brought him home to Dathomir.

Talzin used Nightsister magic to restore his mind and give him new cybernetic legs built from battle droid parts. When Maul’s eyes cleared, his only goal was revenge against Kenobi.

These events appear during the fourth season of The Clone Wars.

The Shadow Collective

No longer Darth Sidious’s apprentice, Maul forged the Shadow Collective, an alliance between Pre Vizsla’s Mandalorian splinter group Death Watch, the Black Sun, and the Pyke Syndicate.

Together, they conquered Mandalore, overthrowing Duchess Satine Kryze’s government. Soon after, Maul challenged Vizsla to single combat, killing him and claiming the Darksaber as his own.

Learning that Satine and Kenobi were in love, he set a trap to capture the Jedi. But instead of killing him, Maul murdered Satine in front of him in an act of extreme cruelty.

However, Maul’s criminal activity attracted the wrong kind of attention. Sidious showed up on Mandalore, declaring his former apprentice a rival.

Sidious killed Savage Opress with ease. After subduing Maul, he used his former apprentice as bait to draw out and destroy Mother Talzin. The dark lord saw Talzin and her clan of Nightsisters as a real threat to his plans.

The trap worked, with General Grievous and his clone army killing Talzin and completely destroying the Nightsisters.

All of these events take place during The Clone Wars Season Five.

The Siege of Mandalore and Order 66

Near the end of the Clone Wars, the Republic troops led by Ahsoka Tano laid siege to Mandalore. They worked with Bo-Katan Kryze, leader of the Mandalorian rebel group and Satine’s sister, to overthrow Maul and free the planet.

Sensing Ahsoka’s disillusionment with the Jedi Order, Maul tried to recruit her. Sharing his Force vision of the future, he told her about Anakin’s fall into darkness, Order 66, and Darth Sidious’ plans for his new Galactic Empire.

She refused him, taking him prisoner. Sidious issued Order 66 soon after, forcing Tano to release Maul as a distraction so she could survive.

Maul also escaped, slinking off into the galaxy that now belonged to the Emperor he once served.

These events appear in The Clone Wars Season Seven, which runs concurrently with Revenge of the Sith.

Shadow Lord of Crimson Dawn

Following the end of the Clone Wars in 19 BBY, Maul rebuilt his criminal network under the name Crimson Dawn. This Imperial-era period is exactly where Maul – Shadow Lord begins.

By 10 BBY, he operated from Dathomir, commanding the syndicate through a figurehead named Dryden Vos.

This is the version of Maul we see in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Little more than an easter egg, he appears as a holographic figure, quietly giving orders, clearly still very much in control.

Ray Park returned to portray the physical Maul, while Sam Witwer provided the voice.

Searching For Kenobi

By 3 BBY, Maul has somehow become stranded on Malachor. There, Maul encounters Ezra, who he quickly sets about manipulating. He blinds Ezra’s master Kanan Jarrus, steals a Sith holocron, and begins his final obsession: finding Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Through Nightsister magic on Dathomir, Maul and Ezra share visions and both realize the same thing: Kenobi is alive on a desert world with twin suns.

In 2 BBY, Maul goes to Tatooine. He can’t find Kenobi, so he uses Ezra as bait one last time. Kenobi reveals himself to protect the boy.

Their final duel is nothing like their first. It lasts only a few seconds, three measured strikes, and Kenobi delivers a fatal wound. As Maul dies, he asks if the young farmboy Kenobi watches over is the Chosen One. Kenobi says yes.

Maul smiles. He dies believing Luke Skywalker will destroy the Sith who consumed both of their lives.

These final events in Maul’s life take place over the course of the second and third seasons of Rebels.

What to Watch First

If you want to walk into Shadow Lord fully prepared, here’s our essential Maul watch guide. We’ve focused on Star Wars canon content and organized it to get you ready for exactly what the show is building on.

The Clone Wars is the most important to understanding Maul, but you don’t need to watch all seven seasons. From The Phantom Menace to Star Wars Rebels, here are the most important stories that involve the former Sith turned crime lord.

All of the films and shows on this list are available to stream on Disney+. They were also released on physical media. Check local and regional libraries for availability.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Although technically optional, this is where Maul makes his debut as Sidious’s enforcer. Admittedly, he is little more than a plot device in the film.

If you are looking to save some time, Obi-Wan Kenobi cuts Maul in half at the waist, setting up a revenge arc that lasts 30 years.

The Phantom Menace is set in 32 BBY, when Maul is approximately 22 years old.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3, Episodes 12, 13, and 14

Also optional, the Nightsisters arc introduces important backstory related to Maul. It focuses on the Nightsisters of Dathomir and their leader, Mother Talzin.

The three episode arc ends with the first hint that Maul is still alive somewhere. It’s also great context for understanding where Maul came from and why Talzin matters so much to his story.

Set in 20 BBY, Maul is 34 years old.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4, Episodes 19, 20, 21, and 22

The final four episodes of Season Four explore how Maul returns. This is where the modern version of the character begins.

His brother Savage locates him in the Outer Rim, broken and feral. After returning to Dathomir, Mother Talzin restores his mind and mends his broken body with Nightsister magic. The arc sets him on his path of revenge, eager to find Kenobi.

If you want to save some time, you can omit episodes 19, “Massacre,” and 20, “Bounty.” While they set up the events of the final two episodes, they are not essential to Maul’s story.

This arc is also set in 20 BBY.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5, Episodes 1, 14, 15, and 16

On his quest for revenge, Maul creates the Shadow Collective and conquers Mandalore only to have Sidious arrive to stop his former apprentice. By the end, Savage is dead, and Maul is a prisoner.

This arc contains some of the most important stories, adding more depth to Maul’s character and establishing him as a charismatic and almost sympathetic villain.

These episodes take place in 19 BBY, when Maul is 35 years old.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7, Episodes 9, 10, 11, and 12

Released in 2020, Season Seven serves as both a revival and conclusion to The Clone Wars, which was unexpectedly cancelled in 2013.

The final four episodes, known as The Siege of Mandalore arc, set up the events that directly lead to Maul – Shadow Lord.

Maul confronts Ahsoka Tano on Mandalore, warning her about Palpatine’s plans, attempting to take her as an apprentice in the process.

Despite capturing Maul, Ahsoka releases him as a distraction so she can escape the clones following Order 66.

This arc is also set in 19 BBY.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Set after Shadow Lord, Maul appears briefly at the end of Solo. The film establishes him as the shadowy boss of Crimson Dawn, giving orders to Qi’ra through a hologram.

The film isn’t essential viewing before the new Maul series comes out, but it still provides insight as we see his character develop throughout the 10 episodes.

Solo takes place in approximately 10 BBY, so Maul would be around 44.

Star Wars Rebels Season 2, Episodes 21 and 22 “Twilight of the Apprentice”

By the time of Star Wars Rebels, Maul is stranded on Malachor. Calling himself “Old Master,” he manipulates Ezra Bridger into helping him locate a Sith relic.

Sensing Ezra’s rebelliousness, Maul attempts to recruit him as his new apprentice only to have Kanan Jarrus step in and save him.

The arc takes place in 3 BBY, making the shadowy crime lord 51 years old.

Star Wars Rebels Season 3, Episode 3 “The Holocrons of Fate”

Taking the Ghost crew hostage, Maul forces Kanan and Ezra to retrieve a hidden Sith holocron. The master and apprentice return to Maul, delivering the Sith artifact along with Kanan’s own Jedi holocron.

While Kanan rescues the other Spectres, Ezra and Maul unite the two holocrons. Together, they share a mysterious vision of a planet with twin suns. Kanan convinces Ezra to abandon the vision, resulting in an explosion that destroys both relics and leaves them all unconscious.

Maul escapes on his ship with a renewed desire for vengeance.

Set in 2 BBY, Maul is 52 years old.

Star Wars Rebels Season 3, Episode 11 “Visions and Voices”

The holocron explosion created a Force-bond with Ezra, allowing Maul to infiltrate their secret Rebel base. Maul agrees to keep the information secret as long as Ezra helps him.

Despite Kanan’s objections, Ezra agrees, traveling with Maul to Dathomir. Using the magic of the Nightsisters, they unlock the information that Maul seeks: where Kenobi is hiding.

However, the ghosts of the Nightsisters demanded payment for using their magic. Maul offers up Ezra, but Kanan and Sabine Wren step in to save him.

Sabine recovers the Darksaber, later using it to help unite the Mandalorians before passing it down to Bo-Katan. The weapon eventually finds its way into the hands of Din Djarin almost a decade later.

This episode takes place shortly after Episode 3, ”The Holocrons of Fate,” still in 2 BBY.

Star Wars Rebels Season 3, Episode 20 “Twin Suns”

In a Season Three episode titled “Twin Suns,” Maul’s neverending quest for revenge finally comes to an end when he locates Kenobi on Tatooine.

Once again, the two adversaries duel with Maul drawing on three decades of hate. Calm and focused, Kenobi bests him in the end.

As he lies dying, he takes some joy in knowing that Palpatine’s Empire will eventually fall.

It takes place in 2 BBY, the same year as the other two Season Three episodes mentioned above, two years before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and six years before the fall of the Galactic Empire as seen in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

While the episode serves as an epilogue to Maul’s story, it’s not a spoiler for Shadow Lord. This episode was released in 2017, nearly a decade before the new Maul series.

Canon Comics Worth Reading

In addition to the films and television shows above, Maul also appears in several comic series. While they all add background about the character, only the 2014 series Darth Maul — Son of Dathomir will likely provide pivotal information related to the new series.

Star Wars: Darth Maul – Black, White & Red (Marvel, 2024, 4 Issues)

Darth Sidious sends Darth Maul to investigate a derelict prison transport carrying members of the Final Occultation cult. Sidious seeks the source of the cult’s dark magic powers. Sensing this dark magic is too dangerous for anyone to control, he crashes the transport, ensuring no one can harness this dangerous power.

Maul then goes on another mission to destroy a group of former bounty hunters turned medics and peacekeepers for an Outer Rim settlement. After successfully killing the last of these peacekeepers, Maul realizes that this was merely one of Sidious’ tests to make him a more ruthless and brutal killing machine.

Sidious then sends Maul to kill a Devaronian fugitive named Coir Cion. Cion has secretly been blackmailing Senator Palpatine, Sidious’ alter-ego. The Devaronian tries to recruit Maul, who briefly considers the arrangement. But he ultimately kills Cion when Sidious checks.

While on a mission to meditate in a forgotten Sith temple, Maul becomes involved in local politics, killing the mayor. Soon after, a spoiled prince arrives with a hunting party who damages the Sith temple while tracking a native beast. Maul ambushes the party, slaughtering all of them, leaving only the beast alive.

The next day, the king arrives, demanding to know what happened to his son, shelling the settlement and threatening the beings that live there. Once again, Maul intervenes, killing everyone in his path. He then returns to meditate at the temple, having learned how to channel his rage with purpose instead of aimless violence.

Star Wars: Darth Maul – Black, White & Red is a four-issue anthology mini-series that showcases Sidious’ training methods and how Maul reacts to them.

Written by Benjamin Percy with Stefano Raffaele as penciller, the series is set in between 40 and 32 BBY. Maul’s age ranges from 14 to 22.

While not essential for watching Maul – Shadow Lord, it does provide background about Maul’s early days as a Sith disciple.

Star Wars: Darth Maul (Marvel, 2017, 5 Issues)

Restless and bloodthirsty, Darth Maul learns that crime lord Xev Xrexus is auctioning off a captured Jedi Padawan Eldra Kaitis. He is eager to face a real Jedi, even one still in training.

Defying Sidious, he hires bounty hunters to steal the Jedi. However, Xrexus learns of Maul’s plans and releases Kaitis into the wild.

Maul begins hunting the young Jedi, but Xrexus sends bounty hunters after both of them. The Sith and the Jedi Padawan are forced to team up to stay alive, with Maul sensing Kaitis could be tempted to the dark side.

Surviving the crime lord’s attack, they finally turn on one another. The Padawan is surprisingly capable, wounding Maul. In the end, Maul kills her and destroys her lightsaber before slaughtering Xrexus.

Returning to Sidious, Maul learns this was actually a secret test. His master was aware of his apprentice’s actions the entire time. While meant to satisfy his bloodlust, Maul admits that his experience only intensified his hunger for Jedi blood.

Written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Luke Ross, the five-issue Marvel comic Star Wars: Darth Maul was released in 2017.

The events take place in 33 BBY, approximately one year before The Phantom Menace, when Maul is around 21 years old.

Age of Republic – Darth Maul (Marvel, 2019, One-Shot)

Darth Maul goes on an unsanctioned mission to identify Jedi and other Force-users. The Sith apprentice hires Zek Peiro, supposedly the best thief in the criminal underworld of Coruscant, to steal a shipment of pre-spice drugs.

Maul soon realizes that they are actually Force-sensitive. After completing the heist, he kills the thief to satiate his growing desire for Jedi blood.

However, Darth Sidious is displeased by his apprentice’s actions. Maul’s impatience risks exposing the Sith and his secret plans to take over the galaxy.

Sidious then takes Maul to Malachor as punishment, forcing him to inhale the ashes of the dead Sith. As a result, he has a Force-vision of his life as a Jedi. But he attacks his vision, realigning with the dark side of the Force.

The Marvel one-shot comic Age of Republic – Darth Maul is a sequel to the 2017 Darth Maul comic, taking place in 33 or 32 BBY, shortly before the events of The Phantom Menace. Maul is approximately 21 or 22 years old.

It’s not essential to Maul – Shadow Lord, but it does provide additional background to his overall character and history, along with his relationship with Sidious.

Star Wars: Darth Maul — Son of Dathomir (Marvel, 2014, 4 Issues)

Maul is still imprisoned, with Sidious using him as bait to draw out Mother Talzin, who he sees as a threat to his plan to take over the galaxy.

Mandalorian members of the Shadow Collective, Gar Saxon and Rook Kast, help Maul escape. Freed, he is able to rally the Shadow Collective of Mandalorians, Black Sun, Pykes, and Nightbrothers.

Together, they capture Count Dooku. The Jedi Order track Maul’s activities, falsely assuming he is the Sith mastermind.

Maul and Talzin try to use Dooku to fully reincarnate Mother Talzin. Sidious arrives to destroy Maul’s collective. Mother Talzin sacrifices herself so Maul can escape.

Darth Maul — Son of Dathomir is a four-issue Marvel comic released in 2014. The story fills an essential gap between Season Five and Season Seven of The Clone Wars.

Originally intended to be an arc in the series, it was adapted as a comic by Jeremy Barlow with illustrations by penciller Juan Frigeri after the series was cancelled.

The events of the comic are set in 19 BBY, shortly before the Siege of Mandalore and Order 66. Maul is 35 at the time.

Other Shows to Consider

Star Wars is a sprawling and inter-connected universe. While our watch list focuses on Maul, there are other characters and events that could be relevant. Here are some other shows to consider watching before starting Maul – Shadow Lord. None of these recommendations are essential, but they will help round out your Star Wars knowledge.

Star Wars Rebels (2014 – 2018)

The Imperial Inquisitorius plays a consistent role throughout much of Star Wars Rebels. The Grand Inquisitor hunts the Ghost crew throughout much of Season One with several other Inquisitors appearing in the second season.

However, with four seasons and 75 23-minute episodes, you cannot binge-watch this in an afternoon or weekend. Here are some of the most important episodes that deal with the Inquisitors:

• Season One, Episode 5 “Rise of the Old Masters”
• Season One, Episode 13 “Call to Action”
• Season One, Episode 14 “Rebel Resolve”
• Season One, Episode 15 “Fire Across the Galaxy”
• Season Two, Episode 5 “Always Two There Are”
• Season Two, Episode 10 “The Future of the Force”
• Season Two, Episode 11 “Legacy”
• Season Two, Episode 18 “Shroud of Darkness”
• Season Two, Episodes 21 and 22 “Twilight of the Apprentice”

Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)

The Inquisitorius play a major role through the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, appearing in every episode.

It highlights their cruelty and in-fighting, and establishes the dynamic between the Inquisitors and Darth Vader.

There are six episodes, each between 45 and 55 minutes long.

Tales of the Jedi (2022)

Part of the Star Wars Tales anthology series, Tales of the Jedi expands the backstory to Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku. Three episodes are dedicated to each character.

The Ahsoka arc is related to the Maul series because it’s the first time we see the Eleventh Brother on screen.

The series is short, just six 15-minute episodes. If you are only interested in the Inquisitors, you only need to watch Episode 6, “Resolve.”

Tales of the Empire (2024)

Tales of the Empire focuses on Morgan Elsbeth and Barriss Offee and their time with the Empire. The Morgan Elsbeth arc is likely unconnected to Shadow Lord.

However, Barriss Offee’s arc is especially relevant because the former Jedi Padawan joins the ranks of the Imperial Inquisitorius. It explores some of their training methods and their brutal mentality.

Barriss even encounters the First Brother who we later see in Ahsoka with the name Marrok.

This second installment of the Star Wars Tales anthology also includes six 15-minute episodes. Episode 4, “Devoted,” and Episode 5, “Realization,” focus on the Inquisitors.

Tales of the Underworld (2025)

The third part of the Star Wars Tales anthology, Tales of the Underworld features former dark side assassin Asajj Ventress and bounty hunter Cad Bane.

In the Asajj Ventress arc, she duels with an unnamed Inquisitor hunting Jedi.

Like the other Tales series, there are six 15-minute episodes, with the Inquisitorius appearing in Episode 1, “A Way Forward.”

Ahsoka (2023)

The remnants of the Imperial Inquisitorius appear in 2023’s Ahsoka. Set in approximately 9 ABY, the First Brother is now working for Morgan Elsbeth as a mercenary named Marrok.

They appear in the first four episodes of the eight-episode series, hunting down Ahsoka. Maul – Shadow Lord will help establish a backstory for the character, presumably as he hunts down Devon Izara or even Maul himself.

Spoiler-Free Watch List

Want to experience his full story spoiler-free before Maul – Shadow Lord? Here is the essentials list so you can explore Maul for the first time.

It’s worth noting that the Maul series takes place between The Clone Wars episode “Victory and Death” and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Solo and the Rebels episodes feature events that happen to Maul after this new series.

Movies and shows are available on Disney+ and physical media. Comics are available through Marvel Unlimited and trade paperback editions. Check your library for availability.

1. Star Wars: Darth Maul – Black, White & Red (2024) [Optional]
2. Star Wars: Darth Maul (2017) [Optional]
3. Age of Republic – Darth Maul (2019) [Optional]
4. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999) [Optional]
5. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Three, Episode 12 “Nightsisters” (2011) [Optional]
6. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Three, Episode 13 “Monster” (2011) [Optional]
7. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Three, Episode 14 “Witches of the Mist” (2011) [Optional]
8. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Four, Episode 19 “Massacre” (2012) [Optional]
9. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Four, Episode 20 “Bounty” (2012) [Optional]
10. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Four, Episode 21 “Brothers” (2012)
11. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Four, Episode 22 “Revenge” (2012)
12. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Five, Episode 1 “Revival” (2012)
13. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Five, Episode 14 “Eminence” (2013)
14. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Five, Episode 15 “Shades of Reason” (2013)
15. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Five, Episode 16 “The Lawless” (2013)
16. Star Wars: Darth Maul — Son of Dathomir (2014) [Optional]
17. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Seven, Episode 9 “Old Friends Not Forgotten” (2020)
18. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Seven, Episode 10 “The Phantom Apprentice” (2020)
19. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Seven, Episode 11 “Shattered” (2020)
20. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Seven, Episode 12 “Victory and Death” (2020)
21. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) [Optional]
22. Star Wars Rebels Season Two, Episodes 21 and 22 “Twilight of the Apprentice” (2016)
23. Star Wars Rebels Season Three, Episode 3 “The Holocrons of Fate” (2016)
24. Star Wars Rebels Season Three, Episode 11 “Visions and Voices” (2016)
25. Star Wars Rebels Season Three, Episode 20 “Twin Suns” (2017)