If Star Wars Celebration Japan is any indication, fans are in for a treat with upcoming animated Star Wars projects. Athena Portillo, Vice President of Animation at Lucasfilm, shared exclusive insights with IGN about two highly anticipated series: the newly announced Tales of the Underworld and Maul: Shadow Lord.
Portillo expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with Sam Witwer, the iconic voice behind Darth Maul, on Maul: Shadow Lord. "Sam was deeply involved with the character depth and lore, working closely with our head writer and supervising director," she told IGN during the event. "He and Dave Filoni, Lucasfilm's CCO, co-created the animated version of Maul. Sam has been integral to the process, from reading scripts to providing feedback on early animations and color tests."
This series marks a significant exploration into the enduring narrative of Darth Maul, a character who has repeatedly returned despite apparent demises. "It's like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees; you keep killing them, but they keep coming back," Portillo humorously noted. "In Star Wars, Darth Maul has died multiple times, yet he persists. We're diving deep into his history with this series."
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Portillo emphasized the advancements in production quality that set Maul: Shadow Lord apart from previous Lucasfilm Animation projects. "We've enhanced everything from animation and lighting to effects, matte paintings, and asset creation," she explained. "After Covid, when we resumed work, Dave Filoni challenged us to step out of our comfort zones. He encouraged us to create something exceptional, pushing the boundaries in body mechanics, facial animation, and lighting. When he reviewed an episode recently, he remarked, 'Wow, you guys are actually creating cinema.'"
Portillo proudly stated, "All aspects of this series are an upgrade from our past work, including The Bad Batch and Tales of the Underworld, which we've just completed. Maul: Shadow Lord is slated for release in 2026, and we're still refining it."
Tales of the Underworld will focus on Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane, each featured in three episodes for a total of six. Portillo shared that Ventress' storyline will explore her resurrection facilitated by Mother Talzin, leading to a narrative involving two Jedi on the run and a budding relationship. "Ventress' journey delves into her past and her struggle with her path forward," Portillo said. "Some characters choose exile, while others turn to the dark side. Ventress' encounter with a significant character in her first short will provide a counterbalance to her darker tendencies."
Portillo confirmed that Tales of the Underworld picks up where the Dark Disciple novel left off, particularly emphasizing the emotional connection between Ventress and Quinlan Vos. "The fans were deeply moved by Vos declaring his love for Ventress," she noted. "These types of love stories resonate strongly, especially given the Jedi's traditional stance on attachments. It's similar to the narratives involving Obi-Wan Kenobi and Satine, or Padme and Anakin."
Both Tales of the Underworld and Maul: Shadow Lord promise to enrich the Star Wars universe with their unique storytelling and advanced animation techniques. Tales of the Underworld is set to premiere on Disney+ on May 4, 2025, while fans eagerly await a release date for Maul: Shadow Lord.
