Disney and Lucasfilm released the first trailer for their upcoming “Star Wars” animated series, “Maul: Shadow Lord,” on Jan. 23. The series is a continuation of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” placing itself shortly after the end of the seven season show.
With the first two episodes set to release April 6, the series continues the story of fan favorite villain Maul (Sam Witwer) as he attempts to rebuild his criminal empire amidst a rapidly changing galaxy after the fall of the Galactic Republic.
The trailer begins on a panning shot of a large cityscape at night. While the city first appears to be on the planet Coruscant, Lucasfilm revealed this planet to be a new one named Janix. City planets like Coruscant are not often seen in “Star Wars” media, so it’s nice to see a new one take center stage.
Very quickly into the trailer, we see the updates to the classic “Clone Wars” art style. Where that show used CG animation to make characters appear vaguely like clay models, this series takes an approach similar to painting. Many of the effects and characters are drawn to look like they were made with broad strokes from paintbrushes, making scenes feel more like they’re coming out of a storybook.
“Times have changed,” Maul said. “I will show you the galaxy for what it truly is.”
As he speaks, it cuts to multiple different scenes: four unknown individuals rappelling down a skyscraper, soldiers disembarking a supply ship, a gun ship flying over an empty street and two unknown groups beginning a shootout.
The camera cuts to shots introducing two more main characters of the series. The first is a young Twi’lek woman named Devon Izara (Gideon Alden). Izara can be seen wielding a lightsaber, hinting she may be one of the few Jedi who survived Order 66 from “Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith.”
Lucasfilm’s own description of the character says she is of interest to Maul as she “may just be the apprentice he is seeking to aid him in his relentless pursuit for revenge.”
The second character introduced is Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura), a detective on Janix. Alongside his droid companion two-boots (Richard Ayoade), the duo is investigating a new shadowy threat on the planet related to Maul in some way. These four characters make up the crux of the show's fast-paced adventure.
After a few more scenes of the cityscape and action, the trailer finally gives viewers their first full look at Maul, dressed in all black attire as he emerges from a spacecraft behind a group of cops. As he ignites his twin-bladed lightsaber, he launches himself into the police officers and the trailer into its climax.
The trailer continues by showing more landscape shots as Maul continues to monologue.
“We have all been made to suffer,” Maul said as an Imperial Walker fires on a crowd. “We survive, but do not live.”
More action shots continue to flash across the screen as viewers see Izara commandeer a gunship and an unknown reptilian force user flip a vehicle.
Amid these action shots is the first glimpses of those who appear to be the main villains in the form of the Inquisitorious, a group of Imperial Force users seemingly bent on capturing or killing Maul. The two inquisitors shown, Marrok (A.J LoCascio) and the Eleventh Brother, both appeared in previous “Star Wars” media, albeit very briefly in both.
As action continues to unfold on the screen, Maul wraps up his diatribe as he fights Marrok and a group of stormtroopers.
“Chains can be broken,” Maul said as his lightsaber spun around and through the soldiers firing at him. “And Empires can be shattered.”
As a few notes from “Duel of the Fates” play in the background, Maul strikes down an unknown individual, just as the title card finally appears on screen.
After the success of the previous “Star Wars” show, “Andor,” fans are hopeful this new series can continue the franchise’s hot streak. With less than three months before its release, “Maul: Shadow Lord” has ample time to keep building the hype among fans before it finally drops.
