How 'Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord' shows the dark side's temptations

SEAN KEANESun, April 5, 2026 at 1:10 PM UTC

0

How 'Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord' shows the dark side's temptations

"Star Wars" returns to Disney+ on Monday, with "Maul - Shadow Lord" putting the former Sith center stage.

Set between "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope," the animated series follows Maul as he tries to rebuild the criminal syndicate he lost during "The Clone Wars."

Over the season's 10 episodes, the ex-Sith Lord sees another opportunity -- the possibility of recruiting a disillusioned Jedi Padawan as his apprentice in the dark side of Force and gaining an ally in his quest for revenge against his enemies.

Lucasfilm Ltd. - PHOTO: A scene still from Lucasfilm's STAR WARS: MAUL - SHADOW LORD, exclusively on Disney+.

After the series premiere on Monday, April 6, two episodes will land each week. The final pair of episodes will arrive May 4 -- "Star Wars" Day.

Lucasfilm also announced that "Maul - Shadow Lord" has been renewed for a second season.

Returning as Maul is actor Sam Witwer, who has voiced the character in "The Clone Wars," "Rebels" and "Solo: A Star Wars Story" over the last 15 years.

Christopher Jue/Getty Images for Disney, FILE - PHOTO: In this April 18, 2025, file photo, Sam Witwer is seen on LIGHT & MAGIC: A Glimpse into the Magic of Season 2 at Celebration Stage during Star Wars Celebration Japan Day 1 in Chiba, Japan.

Joining the galaxy is Gideon Adlon as Devon Izara, the Padawan he's trying to tempt.

Ahead of the show's premiere, Witwer spoke to ABC News about what Devon offers Maul in a galaxy where his former master, Darth Sidious, now rules as Emperor Palpatine. The character has long been replaced as Sidious' apprentice, and is now a fugitive from the Empire.

"Maul is in a place where he's really struggling to forge his own identity, and who better … than Devon to try to prove that he is who he is trying to be?" he said. "Because he can't be Sidious … he's figured out that his master, who is essentially his father figure, has caused him a lot of pain and suffering and is now causing the galaxy at-wide pain and suffering. So, Maul is trying to reinvent himself, and Devon offers him an opportunity to do that."

Lucasfilm Ltd. - PHOTO: Devon Izara (voiced by Gideon Adlon) in Lucasfilm's Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, exclusively on Disney+.

Devon, a new character, has been on the run with her master since the rise of the Empire. Adlon noted that the Twi'lek Padawan is "very deep and extremely reflective" despite her youth.

"The world has given her a few options, and she's just trying to figure out what feels most comfortable," Adlon told ABC News. "Maul offers Devon a look into a side of herself that she may have always known existed but didn't ever really understand how she could explore it."

Pedro Pascal, Baby Yoda return in 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu' trailer

As the show begins, we see that Devon's master, Eeko-Dio Daki -- voiced by Dennis Haysbert, who's also known for playing President David Palmer in "24" -- has kept her on the side of the light in their year or so on the run.

Witwer and Adlon noted that Haysbert is a huge "Star Wars" fan, so playing a Jedi master to Devon came naturally to him.

Lucasfilm Ltd. - PHOTO: Master Eeko-Dio Daki in Lucasfilm's STAR WARS: MAUL - SHADOW LORD, exclusively on Disney+.

"Even from the first episode, you see how [Devon] listens to Daki, she respects him and the morals that he has taught her," Adlon said. "But she knows what she needs to do in terms of survival, and maybe that means doing something that he frowns upon a bit."

Advertisement

Maul offers Devon a different path -- and Witwer noted how seductive the dark side and its quick path to power can be.

"Because, ultimately, everyone is suffering under the Empire … no one's feeling good about it, everyone is afraid," he said. "So Maul says, 'Oh, well, there's a very simple solution to that -- strike, and strike hard, and strike without mercy.'"

That message resonates with Devon, according to Adlon.

Mat Hayward/Getty Images for IMDb, FILE - PHOTO: Gideon Adlon visits the IMDb Portrait Studio at Acura House of Energy on location at Sundance 2026 on Jan. 24, 2026, in Park City, Utah.

"There is a lot of truth to Maul," she said. "There's a lot of honesty in the way that he moves through the world and communicates with people,and he might seem manipulative, and he can be manipulative, but the more I've gotten to know him, the more I've recognized that he is more honest than most."

Witwer noted that it comes back to that classic "Star Wars" notion that our understanding of the truth can depend on your point of view.

Ryan Gosling to star in new 'Star Wars: Starfighter' movie

"He speaks the truth very often, but his interpretation of the truth is what's at question -- Daki would disagree with Maul's interpretation of the facts," he said.

That interpretation comes back to the harsh upbringing Maul -- who dropped the "Darth" title after Sidious disowned him -- experienced under his former master and the dangers of trying to climb to the top of the criminal underworld, according to Witwer.

"There is no space or luxury for nuance … friendship will get you killed. Too much trust will get you killed," he said. "His whole life has been … fight or flight. And he chooses fight most often -- constant cortisol, constant moving forward frantically -- because he feels if he stops to think, he may be killed."

"This is a very dangerous person … to be introduced to a young person who's going through a hard time," Witwer added.

Lucasfilm Ltd. - PHOTO: A scene still from Lucasfilm's STAR WARS: MAUL - SHADOW LORD, exclusively on Disney+.

Adlon said believes her character sees an opportunity in this danger, despite Maul's infamy among the remaining Jedi.

"She recognizes his power and his darkness, but that is also something that she sees within herself, that she's trying to understand," she said. "So I think that he is useful to Devon and her path towards adulthood and her growth, and no matter how much they fight, or they have these confrontations, every single one of them is teaching her something very profound."

Darth Vader lightsaber fetches more than $3.6M at auction

Witwer emphasized that despite Maul having a rich history in this universe, the show is designed to be a good jumping-on point for new fans who aren't deeply invested in the lore.

"This could be the first 'Star Wars' you ever see, and you will feel right at home. The story will explain itself. You will get what's happening, even if you don't know who Maul is -- doesn't matter," he said. "We've constructed the story with an eye toward people who are new to 'Star Wars.' And of course, all these wonderful new characters really [help] take you through it, with Devon being at the top of that list."

Lucasfilm is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News and "Good Morning America."

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”