Fans of the galaxy far, far away got their best look yet at a new 2026 Star Wars show that will act as a direct sequel to the animated The Clone Wars. After seven years of action, The Clone Wars still stands as one of Star Wars' best-reviewed shows, setting the stage for multiple other animated stories to follow. A new entry will add to that saga, and publicity for it is pushing forward.
Lucasfilm shared the best look yet at the animated Maul: Shadow Lord show, which is expected to come to Disney+ in 2026. This marks the first time any Star Wars show has featured a villain as its headlining character. Continuing the story that first came to light in The Clone Wars, Darth Maul will return to the spotlight for his first major screen time since that series concluded.
Courtesy of photos taken exclusively for The Direct from San Diego Comic-Con 2025 (SDCC), fans can see the official title card for the new Maul-starring series. Below that is the best look yet at the show's leading villain, complete with the newest set of legs he received in The Clone Wars Season 5, Episode 14.
Standing tall in an undisclosed and dark locale, Maul holds the classic two-bladed lightsaber that became his staple over his tenure in Star Wars. First seen in 1999's Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Maul used this double lightsaber in battle with Liam Neeson's Qui-Gon Jinn and Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi and made it a staple of his arsenal.
Since fans last saw him, the Zabrak Sith lord has also ditched the armored shoulder padding he was sporting during his last appearance in The Clone Wars Season 7. It's unknown who Maul is facing off against in this still, but it's likely to be a fearsome one if he is choosing to use his full might as seen here.
Maul: Shadow Lord is one of two new Star Wars TV series officially confirmed for 2026. It will feature Sam Witwer's take on Darth Maul a year after The Clone Wars, as the antihero takes a thrilling journey across the galaxy between the events of 2005's Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and 1977's Episode IV: A New Hope. Star Wars: The Clone Wars writer Matt Michnovetz will direct the series, and Brad Rau (of Star Wars Rebels fame) wrote the script for the show. Maul: Shadow Lord will debut on Disney+ in 2026.
What To Expect in 2026 Clone Wars Sequel Show
Sam Witwer, who portrayed Darth Maul in The Clone Wars and will do so again in the upcoming sequel series, offered insight into what fans can expect in his return to the greater Star Wars universe in mid-July 2025. Teasing some of Maul's upcoming journey after Star Wars' first 21st-century animated show, Witwer indicated plenty of his character's story will be left to explore.
Reflecting on Maul's relationship with Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious by the end of Revenge of the Sith, he shared how much impact the Empire's rise would have on the Sith's plan. This will also come with a new emotional complexity that Maul has never shown in his past appearances, even though it will still be the same character at his core.
Specific plot details are unknown, but the show's name may hint at Maul's rise through the galaxy's criminal underworld and eventual leadership as head honcho of Crimson Dawn.
While other Star Wars stories have focused on antiheroes and darker characters, Maul's villainous nature will be highlighted in a way that no other villain has been over the last few decades.
Now, as fans wait for more specifics on when the show will come to Disney+ in 2026, plenty of other questions will be asked about how this story will bridge multiple eras of Star Wars' history.
Richard Nebens joined The Direct in March 2020, now serving as the site's Senior Writer and also working as an assistant editor and content creator. He started his journalism career as a hobby in 2019 and is passionate about sharing news and stories from the entertainment industry, especially comic book movies, comedy, and sci-fi. Richard looks to expand his knowledge about movies and TV every day, and he is eager to stay locked into the latest releases and breaking news at every opportunity.
