The legacy lightsabers of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge explained
By Danny Pham
Darth Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber – Debuted in The Phantom Menace (1999)
The first atypical design of the live-action films, Darth Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber offered the Sith Lord great utility. Two identical silver hilts combined to produce two red blades, which Maul took advantage of to overwhelm his opponents. The lightsaber was based on an ancient design from a Sith holocron owned by Darth Sidious, Maul’s master.
The Zabrak warrior lost half of the weapon when it was split by Kenobi during their duel in The Phantom Menace. He used the remaining half in his quest for revenge in animated series The Clone Wars (2008), which featured the two clashing several times. Their last encounter in the series resulted in Kenobi besting Maul, forcing him to flee.
Maul later founded the Shadow Collective, an alliance of shady, underworld gangs, and used the lightsaber to dispatch its foes. He eventually lost it in a duel with his former Sith master on Mandalore. In animated series Rebels (2014), Maul acquired a new red double-bladed lightsaber that could be disguised as a walking stick.
Mace Windu’s lightsaber – Debuted in Attack of the Clones (2002)
Notably the only purple blade in the live-action films, Mace Windu’s lightsaber has several origins. The most prominent is repeated by actor Samuel L. Jackson, who chose the distinct hue so his character stood out during the coliseum climax of Attack of the Clones. Unfortunately, the lore-based answer is more vague.
The closest explanation is in 2019 novel Master and Apprentice, starring Kenobi and Jinn eight years before The Phantom Menace. During a conversation about lightsabers, Kenobi explains how the weapons function. According to the apprentice, a kyber crystal is colorless until it connects with a Force user. Taking characteristics from the person, each one turns a shade, and produces a blade of the same hue.
Kenobi said while blue and green are the most popular results, “a few crystals even turn purple,” suggesting Windu possessed qualities few had. Windu’s hilt had a rare electrum metal finish, befitting of his position in the Jedi High Council. It is presumed lost after falling out a Coruscant window in Revenge of the Sith (2005).