Darth MaulOpens in a new tab has been a Star Wars fan favorite since we first caught of glimpse of him in the trailer for The Phantom MenaceOpens in a new tab two decades ago. He had a cool visual design that rivaled that of Boba Fett’s, and wielded a double bladed lightsaber too? Fans fell instantly in love, but quickly felt crushed when Maul seemingly met his end at the climax of Episode I. But then, in the animated Clone WarsOpens in a new tab and Rebels series, Maul was given a new lease on life (quite literally). And he became one of Star Wars’ greatest villains.
Now, via Geeks Are SexyOpens in a new tab, we’ve discovered the work of Star Wars superfan and YouTuber ‘Darth PorgOpens in a new tab,’ who has created a tribute video to Maul’s journey. It incorporates all of his appearances, and even making nods to his comic book adventures. Called Maul – Hatred, it chronicles Maul’s transformation from Sith apprentice to warlord; to vengeance-driven madman; to final battle against the Jedi.
As evidenced in the video, a lot of what made Maul so cool was there from the get go, from the brilliant and memorable design from Lucasfilm genius Doug Chiang, to the amazing fighting skillsOpens in a new tab of actor Ray Park. But then, Dave FiloniOpens in a new tab and voice actor Sam WitwerOpens in a new tab came in and gave Maul layers, pulling from all of the greatest villains in pop culture history.
Lucasfilm
In Clone Wars, when we meet Maul again for the first time, he’s a gibbering shell of a man living in a cave like Gollum from Lord of the RingsOpens in a new tab. Then he becomes a vengeance driven machine, similar to KhanOpens in a new tab from Star Trek. The final season Clone Wars even gave us hints of Hannibal Lecter’s prison break from Silence of the Lambs. Ultimately, Rebels gave us a true ending for the character, one that actually made us feel pity for him.
Of course, just because we know how Maul’s story ends now, doesn’t mean we’ve seen the last of him. I feel there are still waysOpens in a new tab to have him figure into the Kenobi series on Disney+ in some kind of way, without breaking continuity. There is still a big missing chapter in his life that needs to be explained. Just how did Maul go from the big boss of Crimson DawnOpens in a new tab (as seen in Solo), to the outcast hermit we meet in Rebels? Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait too long for the answer!
Featured Image: Lucasfilm
