Lucasfilm VP Talks Tales of the Underworld, Maul Game Update

If Star Wars Celebration Japan was any indication, Lucasfilm Animation has exciting plans underway that will expand the Star Wars universe in bold new ways. Athena Portillo, Lucasfilm's Vice President of Animation, recently shared exclusive insights with IGN about two highly anticipated upcoming series: the newly announced Tales of the Underworld and Maul: Shadow Lord.

Darth Maul Returns with Depth and Darkness

Portillo expressed particular enthusiasm about collaborating with Sam Witwer - the iconic voice behind Darth Maul - on developing Maul: Shadow Lord. "Sam was deeply involved in shaping the character's complexity and lore alongside our head writer and supervising director," she told IGN at Star Wars Celebration Japan. "Having co-created Maul's animated persona with Dave Filoni, Sam provides invaluable creative input throughout every stage - from script reviews to pre-visualization materials."

While Maul has appeared in numerous Star Wars stories, this marks the first series entirely dedicated to exploring his mysterious origins. "I jokingly compare him to horror icons like Michael Myers - no matter how many times he's defeated, he always returns," Portillo remarked. "This series finally dives into the rich history behind one of Star Wars' most enduring villains."

Pushing Animated Storytelling to New Heights

Portillo emphasized the significant technical advancements in the upcoming series: "After COVID, Dave Filoni challenged us to push beyond our comfort zones - upgrading our animation rigs, lighting systems, and visual effects to cinematic quality. When he recently reviewed an episode, his reaction was simply: 'You're creating cinema now.' The results surpass even our work on The Bad Batch and Tales of the Underworld."

Currently slated for 2026, Maul: Shadow Lord represents Lucasfilm Animation's most ambitious project yet, building on the lessons learned from Tales of the Underworld which recently completed production.

Ventress and Bane Return in Tales of the Underworld

The anthology series will feature three-episode arcs focusing on Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane, with Ventress' story picking up after the events of the Dark Disciple novel. "We're exploring Ventress' emotional aftermath following her relationship with Quinlan Vos," Portillo revealed. "Her journey involves meeting a young character who becomes her unlikely companion - it's about people entering your life at pivotal moments."

Portillo noted how the series continues Star Wars' tradition of forbidden romances: "Just as Obi-Wan had Satine and Anakin had Padmé, Ventress' connection with Quinlan Vos captivated fans. These complex relationships make our characters truly compelling."

Tales of the Underworld will premiere on Disney+ on May 4, 2025, while anticipation continues to build for Maul: Shadow Lord's eventual release. Both series promise to expand the Star Wars mythos in groundbreaking ways, blending innovative animation with deep character exploration.