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 exciting details about two highly anticipated series during an exclusive interview with IGN: the newly announced Tales of the Underworld and Maul: Shadow Lord.
Portillo expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with Sam Witwer, the voice behind Darth Maul, on Maul: Shadow Lord. "Sam was deeply involved in developing the character's depth and lore alongside our head writer and supervising director," she told IGN at Star Wars Celebration Japan. "He's been integral to shaping Maul's character since its inception with [Lucasfilm CCO Dave] Filoni in animation. Sam reviews scripts, watches rough cuts, and provides valuable feedback."
While Darth Maul has appeared in Star Wars before, Maul: Shadow Lord promises to explore his story in unprecedented depth. "It's like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees," Portillo humorously remarked. "Maul keeps coming back, and we're delving into his history through these stories."
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Portillo emphasized the significant advancements in Lucasfilm Animation's production techniques, including "animation, lighting, effects, matte paintings, lighting concepts, and assets." She explained that Dave Filoni encouraged the team to push their boundaries post-Covid, stating, "You all need to step out of your comfort zones. Being uncomfortable leads to greater achievements. So, create something that surpasses our usual standards." This has led to enhanced body mechanics, facial animations, and overall cinematic quality, which Filoni praised as "creating cinema."
Portillo highlighted that Maul: Shadow Lord represents a significant upgrade over previous projects like The Bad Batch and Tales of the Underworld. Although Tales of the Underworld has been completed, Maul: Shadow Lord is slated for a 2026 release and remains in production.
Tales of the Underworld will feature six episodes, split evenly between Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane, exploring their journeys as villains. Ventress' story, in particular, will delve into her resurrection by Mother Talzin and her subsequent adventures with a young boy, creating a unique relationship narrative across the three shorts.
Portillo confirmed that Tales of the Underworld continues the storyline from the Dark Disciple novel, focusing on Ventress' connection with Quinlan Vos. "The fans were blown away by Vos telling Ventress, 'I will always love you,'" she said. "These kinds of love stories resonate deeply, especially since Jedi are typically forbidden from such attachments."
Ventress' narrative also explores her struggle with her past and her path forward. "After facing significant challenges, some characters rethink their direction," Portillo noted. "Ventress meets someone who helps her become a better person, offering a positive counterbalance to her history."
Both Tales of the Underworld and Maul: Shadow Lord promise to enrich the Star Wars universe with their compelling narratives. Tales of the Underworld is set to premiere on Disney+ on May 4, 2025, while fans eagerly await further details on the release of Maul: Shadow Lord.
