Good news, everyone! After the Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Tokyo, we finally got massive updates about upcoming Star Wars projects—and one of them has fans buzzing with excitement.
I’m here to talk about a brand-new animated series that’s sure to turn heads: Maul: Shadow Lord, set to premiere on Disney+ in 2026.
Maul: Shadow Lord
The series takes place about a year after The Clone Wars and follows Darth Maul as he rebuilds his criminal empire—and takes on a new apprentice. Sam Witwer returns as the voice of Maul, with Dave Filoni directing and Athena Portillo producing. We’ll finally see how Maul rises into his role as the leader of Crimson Dawn. And yes, Darth Talon is officially being brought into canon as his apprentice.
Those lucky enough to attend Star Wars Celebration got an early teaser of the series..
From the teaser, we see Maul battling Jedi and Force wielders—including what appears to be Marrok and an Inquisitor. Later in the footage, we get a major moment: Maul rescues a young Twi’lek from prison. From her design, red skin, it’s hard not to see the unmistakable look of Darth Talon. It’s finally happening.
So, Who Is Darth Talon?
Darth Talon first appeared in the Star Wars: Legacy comic series by Dark Horse Comics, which is set over 130 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. In this series, she is portrayed as a red-skinned Twi’lek Sith Lord adorned with black tattoos, serving as one of Darth Krayt’s Hands—elite enforcers of the One Sith. Talon was known for her fierce loyalty, deadly combat skills, and unwavering dedication to the Sith cause.
Interestingly, George Lucas had plans to bring Darth Talon into the official canon in his original treatments for the sequel trilogy. According to The Star Wars Archives: 1999–2005 by Paul Duncan, Lucas envisioned a storyline where Darth Maul survived and became the godfather of crime in the galaxy, training a new apprentice—Darth Talon. In this narrative, Talon would serve as the primary antagonist, akin to Darth Vader’s role in the original trilogy, with much of the action centered around her.
Lucas’s concept positioned Talon as a significant threat, with her character embodying the dark side’s seductive and destructive nature. This idea was part of a broader plan to explore the power vacuum left by the Empire’s fall and the rise of criminal syndicates, with Maul and Talon at the forefront.
While Lucas’s sequel trilogy plans were ultimately not realized, elements of his vision have resurfaced in recent Star Wars projects. The upcoming animated series Maul: Shadow Lord appears to draw inspiration from these original concepts, potentially bringing Darth Talon into the official canon and exploring her origins as Maul’s apprentice.