Few franchises have stood the test of time quite like the Star Wars story. A classic staple of Hollywood for decades, it has thrilled and entertained audiences all across the world, with its reach nearly making its way to that galaxy so far, far away. Yeah, Star Wars is that popular. And it's clear that it's going to continue to make an impact in the years ahead.
2026 is poised to be a big year for the Star Wars saga, primarily because it will be heading back to the big screen with The Mandalorian and Grogu coming this May. Furthermore, Ahsoka season 2 is finally set to make its presence felt on Disney Plus this year with a planned 2026 release date. But there is also another exciting project on its way, and now we have our first look at it.
Disney Plus unveils first trailer for Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord
One of Star Wars' most underappreciated characters is finally set to get the spotlight we've been waiting for, as Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord arrives on Disney Plus this spring. The streamer unveiled the first trailer for the upcoming animated series, which also confirmed the release date of April 6, 2026, and it has taken the fans by storm.
The trailer showcases a world in which Maul is being hunted by the Emperor, but what the men out searching for him don't realize is that he is actually hunting them. As a result, the footage already showcases the kind of eerie, haunting visuals fans can expect as the hooded warrior appears from behind his enemies while also being unafraid of tackling them head on with his iconic, long red lightsaber.
His purpose here is rebuilding the criminal syndicate on Janix - a planet out of the reach of the Empire. There, he will approach outcasts and misfits who have been wronged by the galaxy around them, seemingly looking to recruit them and offer them a purpose. As the trailer reveals, the unnerving imagery of him surfacing in the darkened corners of the planet with the proposition is really quite the sight to behold.
There is a certain level of gravitas to the way that Maul speaks and that is all down to the incomprable Sam Witwer. The man who has made a name for himself in the Star Wars franchise - while also appearing in other major pop-culture phenomenons such as Smallville, Supergirl, Being Human, and even a cameo in The Walking Dead - is once again giving voice to Darth Maul.
Witwer previously voiced the villain in critically-acclaimed animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, offering up more of a chance for viewers to get to know the character after his mainstream appearance in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace back in 2001. He then reprised the role in sequel series Star Wars Rebels. Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord will serve as a sequel to the first series and a prequel to the second, taking place in between them - bridging the gap to show us how the Maul of Clone Wars evolves into the one we see in Rebels.
The animated series is set a year after the events of The Clone Wars and it promises to showcase Maul as we've never seen him before, attempting to rebuild his aura - which, let's be honest, he never truly lost - in an attempt to battle Emperor Palpatine and his men, who are out to kill him. We're ready to see him in action all over again!