Star Wars Maul Anime “Shadow Lord” Reveals Making Story in New Video Featuring Young George Lucas

The latest animated series Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord is currently available exclusively on Disney Plus. The series places the fan favorite villain Maul at the center, and a newly unveiled making-of video explores how the project came to life.

The video features rare footage of a young George Lucas, who had already been developing ideas for Maul’s story years ago. Executive producer Dave Filoni explained that Maul has always been a character who excites fans whenever he appears. During the production of Star Wars The Clone Wars, Lucas expressed a strong desire to bring Maul back, and that vision ultimately led to this new series.

Maul first appeared as Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace, where he was defeated by Obi Wan Kenobi. Despite his defeat, his striking design and overwhelming combat abilities made him immensely popular. Following Lucas’s vision, the character was later revived in the animated series Star Wars The Clone Wars.

The newly released footage also shows Lucas discussing his ideas for Maul’s future during the production of The Clone Wars. Filoni, often regarded as Lucas’s protégé, emphasized that the excitement surrounding Maul’s appearances inspired the creation of this sequel series, Star Wars Maul Shadow Lord.

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A Dark Story Set After The Clone Wars

The story takes place immediately after The Clone Wars, during a dark era when the Jedi Order has fallen and the Galactic Empire is tightening its control. Maul is driven by anger and a desire for revenge against the Empire. He builds his own criminal organization and even takes a young Jedi as his apprentice, leading to a more dangerous and darker narrative than ever before.

One of the highlights of the series is Maul’s signature combat style using his double bladed red lightsaber. The action showcases him cutting down multiple enemies single handedly, and in episode four, he once again engages in an intense lightsaber duel against two Jedi.

Animation director Keith Kellogg stated that special attention was given to the raw intensity and combat sequences, aiming to achieve the highest level of action seen in the series. Sound design also plays a crucial role. David W Collins, who handled sound effects, explained that the sound of the lightsaber incorporates the voice actor’s screams, expressing emotions such as anger and hatred through audio.

Sam Witwer, who has voiced Maul for over 15 years since The Clone Wars, commented that the visual style reflects the world as Maul sees it, a place filled with danger, aggression, fear, and hostility.

Honoring George Lucas’s Legacy

The production also pays strong homage to George Lucas. Just as original Star Wars films used physical models like the Millennium Falcon and X wing for filming, this series recreates spacecraft using miniature models. Additionally, the traditional matte painting technique, which combines painted backgrounds with live action footage, has been utilized to maintain a sense of realism.

Filoni expressed confidence in the series, stating that it delivers a raw and sometimes terrifying realism while also being deeply dramatic. He emphasized that this approach is essential to telling Maul’s story while honoring the legacy of the Star Wars franchise.

The series consists of 10 episodes, with two episodes released every Monday. The final episode is scheduled to premiere at midnight on May 4, widely known as Star Wars Day. Fans are eagerly anticipating how this long awaited story centered on Maul will conclude.

Source : ORICON NEWS