Yet another Star Wars show was announced this past week, but this one stands out in its appeal to older Gen Z and Millennials. “Maul: Shadow Lord” will feature the original voice actor from the “Clone Wars” animated show and return to the hand-painted animation style that made the original trilogy so visually stunning. 

The animation team revisited old school animation techniques used in the original Star Wars trilogy. The creative team has handpainted glass panels for their backgrounds and environments. Instead of live-action acting in front of these panels, Maul and his story will be animated on top of these glass panels. 

Vice President of Lucasfilm Animation Athena Portilla said, “Cinematography, Lighting, and VFX Director Joel Aron really took it up a notch with going back to the practical ways of capturing brush strokes by painting them on glass, shooting them, then strategically placing them in shots. He even went back to establish matte paintings on canvas.”

Environments like the planet Hoth and the interior of the Death Star used this technique back in the ’70s. As AI and other forms of new animation technology overtake animation jobs, “Maul: Shadow Lord” is expected to prove that newer doesn’t always mean better. The old school, hand-painted touch to this new show adds layers of detail and showcases the love of the world from its creators. 

For those who stuck to the movies, Maul’s story began and ended with “Episode 1: The Phantom Menace” in which Obi-wan Kenobi defeats Maul, slicing him in half and sending him down a chute on Naboo. But the kids who grew up watching the “Clone Wars” animated show know that Maul survived this fight, was cast out by his sith master for his failure to kill Kenobi, and vowed revenge against the jedi who took his legs. 

“Clone Wars” and “Rebels” both fill in Maul’s journey as he recovers from his fight with Kenobi, navigates the fall of the Republic, and becomes the head of a crime syndicate that stretches across the galaxy. For the strictly-movie watchers, Maul’s survival is confirmed at the end of “Solo,” which shows the warrior at the height of his power. 

“Maul: Shadow Lord” is set to take place one year after the end of the Clone Wars, during the earliest and darkest days of the Empire. 

Sam Witwer is the original voice actor from the “Clone Wars” and “Rebels” animated series. He reprises his role alongside Gideon Adlon as Devon Izara, Golden Globe winner Wagner Moura as Brander Lawson, and Richard Ayoade as Two-Boots. 

“I’ve always had a lot of questions about this character. Why did Maul never give up Palpatine?” Witwer said. After being cast out by Darth Sidious, Maul never revealed Palpatine’s true identity, maintaining loyalty to his former Master until the very end of the Clone Wars. “But Palpatine killed his family. Palpatine showed no loyalty to Maul. … So what is it? Why did Maul maintain this loyalty? I’m saying too much.” 

The premise of the show will aim at capturing the complex position Maul finds himself in after the formation of the Empire; an Empire he was supposed to be at the top of. The vast setting of a piece of the Star Wars franchise is like a storytellers playground, with an entire galaxy to explore. 

Much like our own, the Star Wars universe is ever-expanding. “Maul: Shadow Lord” premiers on April 6, with two episodes released per week in the lead up to Star Wars day, May the Fourth. 

**Mavrie has been serving as editor for the ThunderWord since 2024. She is also the founding president of Highline’s Non-fiction Writers Circle.**