Star Wars’Darth Maulis set to surpass Luke Skywalker in one surprising way.Star Wars’primary story arc is called the Skywalker saga for a reason – Luke Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker, and Leia Organa are the characters around whom the galaxy’s storytelling revolves. In comparison, most otherStar Warscharacters play minor roles in the Skywalker saga, even if their impact on the story has far-reaching consequences. One suchcharacter is Darth Maul, whose short-lived presence inStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menacechanged the trajectory of young Anakin Skywalker’s life forever.
Despite his iconic character design and killing Qui-Gon Jinn, a Jedi who, arguably, would have been a much more suitable Master for the impressionable and emotional Anakin,Maul only had six minutes of screen time inThe Phantom Menace. EvenStar WarscreatorGeorge Lucas originally regretted killing Mauloff so soon, which, in the end, led toMaul being resurrected in the animated seriesStar Wars: The Clone Wars. Since then, Maul has had a significant presence inStar Warsstorytelling, and one day soon, he’ll have even more of a presence than Luke Skywalker.
Darth Maul’s Resurrection Means He’s Catching Up To Luke Skywalker
As one ofStar Wars’ main heroes, Luke Skywalker has had substantial screen time in the franchise. Counting his appearances in the originalStar Warstrilogy, the sequel trilogy, as well asThe Mandalorianseason 2 andThe Book of Boba Fett,Luke Skywalker has appeared on-screen for a total of 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 19 seconds. Maul’s six-minute live-action screen time (roughly seven, when counting his brief cameo appearance inSolo: A Star Wars Story) is paltry in comparison. Then again, Luke Skywalker has never been included inStar Warsanimation.
If we include Maul’s screen time inStar Wars: The Clone WarsandStar Wars Rebels,the former Sith apprentice appeared on-screen for 1 hour, 41 minutes, and 34 seconds. That’s roughly 25 minutes less than Luke Skywalker has appeared in the franchise. However, with the latest news from Star Wars Celebration 2025,Maul is set to surpass Luke’s total screen time.
There’s No Way Maul Won’t Beat Luke Now He Has His Own Show
At this year’s Star Wars Celebrationin Japan,Lucasfilmofficially announcedStar Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, a new animated series (featuring a brand-new animation style) that will see Maul rebuild his criminal empirein the wake of Order 66 and Palpatine’s rise to power. Presumably, this will tie in with his appearance as Crimson Dawn’s leader inSolo: A Star Wars Storyand pick up where Maul left off inThe Clone Warsafter decimating Mandalore for personal gain.
Maul is one ofStar Wars’most complex, tragic, vicious, and compelling villains; so much of his story is left to explore. Though we already know how his second chance at life began and how it ends, there’s a lot we still don’t know about his life before Palpatine, what he did after escaping Ahsoka Tano’s custody, or how he ended up on Malachor inStar Wars Rebels. Thankfully, we know some of this will be revealed inShadow Lord.
Luke may be the franchise’s most important hero, but Darth Maul is undeniably becoming one of Star Wars’ most defining villains.
This includes Maul’s new apprentice, who will be included inShadow Lordand, according to theScreen Rantteam in attendance at Celebration, looks suspiciously likeDarth Talon, a Sith apprentice from theStar WarsLegends continuity.Sam Witwer, who will return to voice the character followingClone WarsandRebels, has also revealedthat the show will explore how Maul feels about the Jedi – an interesting question given his relationships with Ahsoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ezra Bridger – and how he views the Empire’s reign.
Now that he’s leading his very own show, there’s no way Maul’s screen time won’t soon eclipse Luke Skywalker’s. Sometimes, the unlikeliest characters become the most compelling. Luke may be the franchise’s most important hero, butDarth Maulis undeniably becoming one ofStar Wars’ most defining villains.
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