The first official trailer for Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord has arrived, showing the fan-favorite villain in a new, darker story. The animated series will begin streaming on Disney+ on April 6, 2026. The trailer introduces Maul’s mysterious new apprentice and a neon-lit world of crime, setting the stage for a major new addition to the Star Wars galaxy .
Trailer Breakdown and Key Story Details
The new teaser trailer provides the first real look at the series’ story and style. The plot picks up after the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, finding the former Sith Lord Maul working to rebuild his criminal empire on a remote planet called Janix. This world is described by producers as a unique mix of different cityscapes, built into a crater and operating outside the reach of the growing Galactic Empire .
In the trailer, Maul finds a potential ally in Devon Izara, a young Twi’lek who is on the run. The footage hints that she may become his new apprentice, aiding him in his quest for power and revenge . The show will also feature threats from the Empire’s Jedi hunters, the Inquisitorius, including the character Marrok from the live-action series Ahsoka .
Executive producer Matt Michnovetz described the series as “a super fast-paced series… an action-packed thrill ride” that pays homage to the classic serials that inspired the original Star Wars films .
The Voices Behind the Characters
Sam Witwer returns to voice Darth Maul, a role he has performed for years in shows like The Clone Wars and Rebels . He is joined by a talented new voice cast. Gideon Adlon provides the voice for the pivotal character of Devon Izara .
The cast also includes recent Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee Wagner Moura as Captain Brander Lawson, a respected detective on the planet Janix. Richard Ayoade voices his droid partner, 2B0T “Two-Boots”. Additional cast members feature Dennis Haysbert, Chris Diamantopoulos, and Vanessa Marshall, who reprises her role as Mandalorian warrior Rook Kast from The Clone Wars .
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A New Visual Style for a Gritty World
Maul – Shadow Lord will have a distinct visual style. While it keeps the stylized look familiar from The Clone Wars, the animation team used special techniques to create a darker, more textured world for this story .
The team incorporated old-school filmmaking methods, such as painting brush strokes on glass and creating matte paintings on canvas, to give the animation a unique, hand-crafted feel . Executive producer Athena Portillo noted that the goal was to push beyond their previous work, making the character movements and facial expressions more fluid and detailed .
Global Release Schedule and Prequel Plans
The series is scheduled for a very specific release. It will premiere on Monday, April 6, 2026, on Disney+ in the United States and other global markets . New episodes will be released in pairs each week, leading to a two-episode finale on Star Wars Day, May the 4th. This weekly release strategy will cover a total of 10 episodes.
For fans eager for more content before April, Marvel Comics will publish a prequel comic series set on Janix starting in March 2026. This story will feature the characters Brander Lawson and Two-Boots .
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