Lucasfilm has officially revealed the voice cast for the animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, and the lineup is a dream come true for fans of the criminal underworld. The series, which bridges the gap between the end of The Clone Wars and the rise of Rebels, features a mix of returning legends and high-profile newcomers.
The announcement from Star Wars.com confirms what many had hoped: Sam Witwer is officially back to voice the titular former Sith Lord. Witwer, who has become the definitive voice of the character across The Clone Wars, Rebels, and Solo: A Star Wars Story, will lead a cast that explores Maul’s desperate rise to power on the planet Janix.
The Return of the Shadow Collective
Set approximately one year after the Siege of Mandalore, Maul – Shadow Lord finds the protagonist at his most volatile. No longer a Sith apprentice but not yet the “Old Master” we meet on Malachor, this version of Maul is focused on rebuilding his criminal empire.
Joining Witwer is an impressive ensemble of actors bringing new life to the Outer Rim:
- Gideon Adlon stars as Devon Izara, a Twi’lek Jedi Padawan surviving in the wake of Order 66.
- Wagner Moura voices Captain Brander Lawson, a determined local police detective on the planet Janix.
- Richard Ayoade provides the voice for Two-Boots (2B0T), Lawson’s droid partner who is already becoming a favorite among fans for his unique character design, specifically, his literal pair of boots.
- Dennis Haysbert provides the voice for Jedi Master Eeko-Dio Daki.
- Vanessa Marshall is no stranger to the Star Wars franchise. As the voice of Hera Syndulla, she led the charge for Rebels. Now, she is the voice of Rook Kast.
- David W. Collins is another Star Wars alumni. He provides the voice for Spybot.
- A.J. LoCascio rounds out the cast as the voice of the mysterious First Brother Inquisitor Marrok.
A Noir-Inspired Star Wars Tale
The series is described as a serialized, 10-episode “crime-noir” story. Head writer Matt Michnovetz and supervising director Saul Ruiz are leaning heavily into the “scum and villainy” of the galaxy, moving away from the grand scale of the Empire and focusing on the gritty reality of the underworld.
For Maul, the stakes are deeply personal. The story follows his efforts to stay under the radar of Palpatine while seeking a new apprentice. When he crosses paths with Devon Izara, the series explores the “conflicted” nature of a young Jedi who is forced to choose between the light side and the survival offered by the Shadow Collective.
Sam Witwer as Maul
Leading the Maul Shadow Lord cast is Sam Witwer, who returns once again to provide the voice and soul of the titular character. Witwer has become synonymous with Maul, having voiced him through his resurrection in The Clone Wars, his eventual end in Rebels, and his surprise cameo in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Witwer’s deep understanding of the character’s rage, vulnerability, and obsession with Kenobi makes his return essential for this noir-inspired series. In Shadow Lord, Witwer will be portraying a version of Maul that is rebuilding the Shadow Collective, operating in the shadows to avoid the gaze of the Emperor.
Richard Ayoade as Two-Boots (2B0T)
One of the most intriguing additions to the cast is Richard Ayoade. Known for his dry wit in The IT Crowd and his previous Star Wars work as the voice of Zero (Q9-0) in The Mandalorian, Ayoade brings a unique energy to the series. He voices Two-Boots, a droid partner to the local police on Janix. Two-Boots is already a point of discussion for fans due to his peculiar design, a droid that wears a literal pair of boots. Ayoade’s signature deadpan delivery is expected to provide a necessary tonal contrast to the grim reality of the Outer Rim underworld.
Wagner Moura as Captain Brander Lawson
Acclaimed actor Wagner Moura, perhaps best known for his haunting portrayal of Pablo Escobar in Narcos, joins the series as Captain Brander Lawson. Lawson is a weary but determined police detective on the planet Janix. Moura’s involvement suggests a high-stakes, dramatic performance as he leads the local law enforcement trying to maintain order in a sector increasingly influenced by Maul’s criminal activities. Having an actor of Moura’s caliber highlights the “crime-noir” direction the showrunners are taking with this 10-episode event.
(image from StarWars.com)
Gideon Adlon as Devon Izara
Rounding out the primary cast is Gideon Adlon, voicing Devon Izara. Adlon has made a name for herself in projects like The Society and Blockers. In the Star Wars universe, she plays a Twi’lek Jedi Padawan who has spent the last year surviving the horrors of Order 66. Her character serves as the emotional core of the series, as she is forced to weigh the teachings of the Jedi against the harsh methods of survival offered by Maul. This dynamic between a former Sith and a desperate Padawan is expected to be the driving force behind the narrative.
With the Maul Shadow Lord cast now public, the series is positioned to be a major bridge in the Star Wars timeline. The production features supervising director Saul Ruiz and writer Matt Michnovetz, both of whom are veterans of the franchise’s animation division. By focusing on a “painterly” animation style and a gritty, street-level story, Lucasfilm is expanding the boundaries of what fans expect from animated storytelling.
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