The next era of Star Wars animation kicks off next week with the launch of Maul: Shadow Lord, with the long-supporting character stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight for the first time. But there’s good news for fans of the Zabrak who just don’t know when to quit: he’s already going to be back for round two.
As part of an extensive profile on the character’s history for Esquire, Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni confirmed that work is already underway on a second season of Shadow Lord. While no further details about when to expect the show to return were revealed, it’s not too surprising, considering Lucasfilm’s animated output usually tends to run for at least a couple of seasons.
With Shadow Lord as the only currently announced animated series in production, hopefully fans won’t have to wait too long to see season 2. There’s clearly plenty of story to tell with Maul, with the new show set shortly after the rise of the Empire in Revenge of the Sith, giving almost two decades of space to play around in as we see Maul grow into the criminal mastermind we see him as in Solo (and as the eclectic, revenge-driven hermit we eventually see in Rebels).
Interestingly, however, before the news was confirmed today, Shadow Lord executive producer Athena Yvette Portillo told Collider that there are potential other plans in the works that could cause speed bumps for Maul’s return, telling the outlet, “We have other things in development and in progress, not necessarily related to the show. So again, it all depends on whether the fans really do want another season, and then we’re all for it.”
Now that season 2 is confirmed, time will tell if Lucasfilm Animation will reveal more of its currently shrouded plans before we return to the former Sith—or if Maul’s moment is truly upon us.
The first season of Maul: Shadow Lord begins streaming on Disney+ April 6.
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