Maul: Shadow Lord is on its way, but there’s one thing I desperately want to see in the show that’ll connect it to three different Star Wars shows. Darth Maul is one of the best antagonists in Star Wars simply because he keeps finding ways to adapt, survive, and all the time maintain his bloodlust for Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Originally introduced (and thought killed) in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul returned in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Palpatine’s former apprentice shone once his story moved into animation, thanks to the tremendous voice acting of Sam Witwer. Now, Witer is due to return in a new animated TV show spinning out of The Clone Wars, Maul: Shadow Lord.
The New Maul Show Could See The Former Sith Face Off Against Inquisitors
And I’m Hoping For An Amazing Showdown
Maul has been a thorn in Palpatine’s side since he reappeared in The Clone Wars, so it’s no wonder that he’d want his former apprentice killed at any cost. When Order 66 was declared, Maul was among the ones hunted by the clones, though they ultimately failed to catch or kill him.
With this in mind, it’s clear that Palpatine would be interested in having Darth Vader send his Imperial Inquisitors after the former Sith. Maul was seen being hunted by Inquisitors in Star Wars Rebels’ season 2 finale. It’s likely that these weren’t the first Inquisitors sent after him, so hopefully, Maul: Shadow Lord, will show more of these showdowns.
Maul has been responsible for some of the best lightsaber fights in Star Wars, so seeing him face off against another Inquisitor would be fantastic. Knowing Maul’s character, it’s likely he killed whatever Inquisitor was sent after him, but I’d be interested to see him fight them off.
Could An Inquisitor Reveal to Maul That Obi-Wan Kenobi Is Still Alive?
And Renew Maul’s Search For The Jedi
The events of Obi-Wan Kenobi confirmed that the Inquisitors knew that Obi-Wan Kenobi was alive and in hiding, though neither they nor Darth Vader were able to kill him (at least not until A New Hope). Given Kenobi was a high value target, it’s reasonable to ᴀssume all the Inquisitors knew he was alive – including any sent after Maul.
With Maul’s superior lightsaber skills and his ability to kill without a second thought, an Inquisitor who was sent to kill him likely stood no chance. It’s possible that in Maul: Shadow Lord, we see Maul face off against an Inquisitor, and in a moment of attempted self-preservation, the Inquisitor reveals everything they know about Kenobi being alive.
While Maul wouldn’t spare the Inquisitor’s life, it may spark and renew his desire to find and kill Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Plot details for Maul: Shadow Lord are still thin, but the possibilities are endless. Personally, I do think the Inquisitors will have to factor into the story somehow; that’s especially true given we know Maul remains dedicated to bringing down the Sith, via establishing a criminal empire. In order to bring someone like Maul down, a Force user like an Inquisitor is necessary.
This Would Set Up Maul’s Final Arc in Rebels
And Would Perfectly Connect Three Star Wars Projects
When Maul appears in Star Wars Rebels, it’s clear he has rededicated himself to finding and killing Obi-Wan Kenobi. We don’t know when he rededicated himself to this quest, but in Rebels, there seems to be no trace of his crime syndicate Crimson Dawn.
Maul: Shadow Lord is set to premiere on Disney+ sometime in 2026.
In fact, Rebels sees Maul living isolated on Dathomir, clearly haunted by memories of Obi-Wan; he has a mural of Obi-Wan’s love, Satine Kryze, with her eyes scratched out by the former Sith. Did an encounter with an Imperial Inquisitor change the course of Maul’s life, leading him to focus on bringing down Obi-Wan?
This would be a smart way for Star Wars to connect the events of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Maul: Shadow Lord, and Rebels. The question raised is whether or not the upcoming Maul show will be solely focusing on Maul running Crimson Dawn, or if it will include his bloodlust for Obi-Wan Kenobi. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait until Maul: Shadow Lord premieres in 2026.