The recent Star Wars Celebration Japan offered exciting glimpses into Lucasfilm's future animated projects. Athena Portillo, Lucasfilm's Vice President of Animation, revealed exclusive details about two upcoming shows during an IGN interview: the newly announced Tales of the Underworld and Maul: Shadow Lord.
Reviving a Legendary Sith Lord
Portillo expressed particular enthusiasm about working with Sam Witwer, the iconic voice of Darth Maul, on Maul: Shadow Lord. "Sam contributed significantly to character development and lore alongside our head writer and supervising director," she told IGN. "Having co-created the animated version of Maul with Dave Filoni, Sam provides valuable input on scripts, story reels, and animation phases."
While Maul has appeared multiple times in Star Wars media, this marks the first deep exploration of the villain's backstory. Portillo jokingly compared the Sith to horror icons: "Like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees, he keeps returning despite multiple defeats. We're finally delving into Maul's complex history in this series."
From Supporting Role to Leading Character
Portillo emphasized the technical advancements distinguishing these projects from previous Lucasfilm animations, including upgraded lighting, effects, and matte paintings. "After COVID, Dave Filoni challenged us to push beyond our comfort zones," she explained. "We overhauled our animation systems - from body rigs to facial expressions - until even Filoni remarked we were 'creating cinema' with the results."
While Maul: Shadow Lord premieres in 2026, Tales of the Underworld will arrive earlier with six episodes (three each for Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane). Ventress' storyline continues from Dark Disciple, exploring her post-Talzin life. "Her relationship with Quinlan Vos particularly resonated with fans," Portillo noted, drawing parallels to other Star Wars romances.
Ventress' Redemption Journey
The series will showcase Ventress reconsidering her path, Portillo revealed: "Some characters choose exile after trauma, others embrace darkness. Through a meaningful new relationship, Ventress confronts her past."
Tales of the Underworld debuts on Disney+ May 4, 2025, with Maul: Shadow Lord following in 2026. Both promise exciting expansions to the Star Wars animated universe.
