Maul Tells us the New David Filoni Star Wars Era is Well and Truly in Front of us

He might have had his hand in many pies for a long time, but now as COO and the lightsabre-bearer for all Star Wars creative efforts, Filoni’s vision and blueprint comes to bear, albeit at the robotic legs and traumatised torso of one Darth Maul…

By episode 10 of Maul, if you’re not into it, you just won’t ever be. That’s a harsh way to suggest you’re wrong, but we’re here to hoist the best of pop culture as best we can, and currently Maul on Disney+ is about the best on the service right now. In fact, we’ll go so far as to suggest this is in league with Andor in the relative ‘dark’ and ‘gritty’ stakes, though its trauma is a bit less blunt-force and more perceived in its delivery. Make no mistakes though, this series recognises the brutality of Maul and his former Sith apprentices-in-arms and isn’t afraid to broach the topic. Interestingly, though, Maul is also a little bit closer to Ahsoka than Andor in that it leans heavily into the space wizards fantasy we’ve loved for so long, it just does this in a uniquely urban way.

We need to start calling this shit spacepunk, rather than space opera.

Sorry, bear with us.

Directly linked to Maul’s post-Obi Wan encounter in The Phantom Menace, this series focuses on the titular character who is brilliantly voiced by our favourite sci fi nerd actor, Sam Witwer (read our “Would you like to know more box out for?”… MORE!). Maul’s agenda to build on machinatious desires to down the Empire and seek a very personal revenge against Darth Sidius, his betrayightful master with whom he holds about as deep a grudge as Queen Elizabeth I did for Mary, Queen of Scots or, for the young 'uns, Kendrick does for Drake (or vice-versa), belies his training and gives us an odd centre between “giving in to your hate” or just trying to be the best Zabrakian he can be. In short, he is a grey character; not quite altruist, not entirely dark, but also not an anti-hero -- he just exists in a fluid space driven by a personal vendetta. And he will manipulate the forces around him to his will in order to achieve his goals. And it’s in the writing around this and his portrayal by Witwer that the show immediately grabs you, Force Grip-like.

Maul: Shadow Lord

What’s The Pop?: 10-Episode Animated Series
From: LucasFilm Animation/Disney+
Release Date: April 06, 2026
Official Link: Watch Maul: Shadow Lord Here
Author: Stephen Farrelly
Date: May 26, 2026

What helps separate this type of storytelling and characterisation is the series’ art and presentation. Delivered more as painted brushtrokes, this darker tilt stands alone in the usual outlay of Star Wars animation, giving it a unique stamp that we hope stays with it all the way through. Maul himself is superbly animated and entirely relatable. His subtle emotions told through his eyes and facial expressions are incredible, to the point that it’s easy to forget you’re watching a CG animated series while Witwer brings a malevolence and vulnerability to him you might never have known existed. But the show can’t exist on his shoulders alone, and the rest of the cast of characters and their respective actors are simply amazing.

"After a series of high octane events and one poorly-placed call, Janix is suddenly firmly in the Empire’s sites..."

When we mentioned above that Maul married space wizards with an urban tale, we weren’t kidding. Events unfold on the cyberpunk-like planet of Janix where Maul works to rebuild his own syndicate, while working against (and eventually with) local crime lord, Looti Vario. Caught up in all of this are the local authorities who will do anything to avoid the all-seeing eye of the Empire, only one droid named Two-Boots (voiced by Richard Ayoade) sees protocol as the one thing needing to be followed and after a series of high octane events and one poorly-placed call, Janix is suddenly firmly in the Empire’s sites.

Would you like to know more?
If you aren't aware of Witwer's work, chances are you've heard, seen or played it - guy has been there done that, on repeat, his whole career. And sci fi is his jam. From Battlestar Galactia to Riverdale, his versatility is almost unmatched while his uncredited work is a credit to the relationships he's built over the journey. On a Star Wars front, he was the memorable lead in Star Wars: The Forced Unleashed as "Starkiller", and has always found himself doing something somewhere within the galaxy far, far away. We think, though, Maul is his best work to date, and we're hanging for whatever he does next!

While Maul and co could easily escape the planet and set up operations elsewhere, he’s sensed the presence of a young padwan whom he feels he can take on board as a new apprentice. Devon Izara (portrayed by Gideon Adlon), however, is in hiding and loyal to her master, Eeko-Dio Daki, brilliantly brought to life by Dennis Haysbert. The pair have been on the run since Order 66 and have been essentially living hand-to-mouth in Janix’s back streets, alleys and sewers. Naturally all of these disparate groups come together and chaos and drama ensues.

While the overall story is fairly predictable, the way in which it plays out is anything but, with minor moments looming larger than first expected and unexpected alliances making this both an emotional and action-packed adventure that knows just when to put the breaks on, and when to floor it. And, honestly, we simply can’t talk more highly of the animation and art here -- Maul is the new standard bearer.

We won’t spoil any more for you, but at just under 25-minutes each, Maul’s 10 episodes feel more robust than their runtimes would have you believe and yet when the dust settles by episode 10 it feels like we’ve only just scratched the surface, and that Maul’s newest arc is far from over. As is Filoni’s influence on proceedings across the board moving forward. And if Maul is anything to go by, the future is bright and figuratively dark from a tonal perspective, which we’re entirely here for.

Must watch content.

Enjoy more stills from the series in our carousel below.

About the author

Written By Stephen Farrelly
Stephen Farrelly is a veteran journalist and editor with more than two decades experience in the worlds of gaming, entertainment, lifestyle and sport. He is a proud pug dad, loves art in all forms (particularly street and tattoo culture), and is the director of Swear Jar Editorial and Media Pty Ltd, this site's owner and publisher. When not dispensing words, he's also dispensing boutique beers as a taproom fixture at Bracket Brewing in Marrickville, NSW...
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