CABLE | Betraying 'Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord' in Animation

"Empires can be shattered."

Lucasfilm Animation

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, created by Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni, brings the iconic but tragic former Sith apprentice from The Phantom Menace, who was famously halved yet managed to survive nonetheless, back in the form of an exciting, all-new animated series. Actor Sam Witwer reprises his title voice role from The Clone Wars and Rebels to further flesh out the memorable villain's complex legacy, focused on betrayal, set shortly after the events of Revenge of the Sith during the reign of the Galactic Empire.

As the tonally grim yet visually dazzling series begins, we find (the no longer "Darth") Maul in hiding as he seeks to rebuild his consolidated power over various underworld criminal syndicates, under the moniker of the "Shadow Collective," without drawing the Empire's attention. Episodes feature the vocal talents of Gideon Adlon, Dennis Haysbert, Wagner Moura, and Richard Ayoade, rounding out the series' colourful cast of Jedi, detective, alien, and droid characters on the neon-soaked cyberpunk planet of Janix (think Blade Runner).

Much of Shadow Lord's stylized visual action finds a balance between mystery and intrigue, giving the unknowable figure of Maul more depth and gravitas without ruining his alluring mystique. There's an undeniably strong sense of neo-noir gangster pulp to its fluidly episodic animated storytelling. Witwer's stalking characterization of Maul only enhances his angry, more frenzied depiction while teasing his inevitable doom. It's a promising continuation of classic Star Wars canon that highlights the best of the initially much-maligned, now reevaluated prequel trilogy.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord's ten-episode first season is available to stream weekly on Disney+.


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