Darth Maul Gets His Own Animated Series, Set for April 2026 Release

Darth Maul, one of the most popular villains in Star Wars, is officially returning to the spotlight. Disney has released the first teaser for Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord, a new animated series set to premiere on April 6, 2026, on Disney+.

The 10-episode series takes place after Maul’s story in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and before his appearance in Star Wars: Rebels. It follows Maul as he attempts to rebuild his criminal empire on a remote planet that has not yet fallen under the control of the Empire.

According to Lucasfilm, Maul’s plans become more complicated when he encounters a young, disillusioned Jedi Padawan. The mysterious Force-user may become the apprentice Maul needs as he continues his obsession with revenge.

Maul — Shadow Lord will debut with two episodes on April 6. After that, Disney+ will release two episodes per week, with the season wrapping up on May 6.

The series is created by Dave Filoni, a longtime creative force behind animated Star Wars projects and a close collaborator of George Lucas. Filoni is also the co-creator of The Clone Wars and was recently named President and Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm. The show is expected to continue the kind of character-driven storytelling Filoni has become known for, working within established parts of the Star Wars timeline.

The announcement comes as Disney and Lucasfilm continue to focus heavily on familiar characters and eras. Since releasing Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, the studio has struggled to move the franchise forward with new stories. Several planned films and series have stalled or been cancelled, while spin-offs tied to The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian have remained the most consistent output.

Looking ahead, Lucasfilm will release The Mandalorian and Grogu in theaters on May 22, 2026—the first Star Wars movie to hit cinemas in seven years. Another film, Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy, is scheduled for May 28, 2027 and will be the first movie set after the events of The Rise of Skywalker.

For now, Maul — Shadow Lord signals Disney’s continued reliance on well-known characters—this time giving one of Star Wars’ most enduring villains his own dark, focused story.