Star Wars fans have a lot to look forward to with the upcoming animated projects announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan. Athena Portillo, Vice President of Animation at Lucasfilm, shared exciting details about two new series in an exclusive interview with IGN: the recently announced "Tales of the Underworld" and the "Maul: Shadow Lord" series.

Portillo expressed her enthusiasm about collaborating with Sam Witwer, the iconic voice of Darth Maul, on "Maul: Shadow Lord." She highlighted Witwer's deep involvement in the project, stating, "Sam was involved a lot with the character depth and the lore, along with our head writer and supervising director. He's involved with the character depth of Maul, because both him and [Lucasfilm CCO Dave] Filoni created the character together in animation, and you know, he gets to read the scripts, he gets to watch the whip reels, he gets to watch the pool color. He provides input." This collaboration promises to bring a richer narrative to the already beloved character, exploring his history and enduring presence in the Star Wars universe. Portillo humorously compared Maul to horror icons like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees, noting his persistent return despite apparent demises.

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Portillo emphasized the significant advancements in production quality for "Maul: Shadow Lord," including improvements in animation, lighting, effects, matte paintings, and assets. She recounted Dave Filoni's challenge to the team to step out of their comfort zones and create something exceptional. "When Filoni kicked off the Maul show, which was after Covid, people were getting back into the swing of coming back to work, but he said, 'You all need to pull yourself out of complacency, you all need to pull yourself out of your comfort level. Being uncomfortable is a good feeling, and it leads you to greater things. So, create something that is an upgrade of what we're used to doing,' both in the animation style such as the body mechanics, facial animation, we updated all of our body rigs, and then all the lighting, everything," she explained. Filoni's praise of the team's work as "cinema" underscores the high quality of the series, set to release in 2026.

"Tales of the Underworld" will delve into the lives of Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane, each character receiving three episodes for a total of six. Portillo shared that Ventress' storyline will explore her resurrection by Mother Talzin and her subsequent journey, including a relationship with a young boy, creating a narrative of two Jedi on the run. This series picks up from the "Dark Disciple" novel, confirming Ventress' return and her connection with Quinlan Vos, which has captivated fans. "Yeah. My favorite part of that is the whole Quinlan Vos and Ventress connection. When the fans saw that, and when he said, 'I will always love you,' it blew everyone away," Portillo revealed, highlighting the emotional depth of the series.

Ventress' story will also explore her internal struggle and path forward, reflecting on her past and the choices she faces. "Sometimes after they've gone through a lot, they start to rethink their path, and which way they want to go. Some choose a path of exile in a way, where they don't want to be a part of what their history has been. And then others turn to the dark side, as we've seen," Portillo explained. The character she meets in the first short will play a crucial role in her journey, offering a balance to her darker tendencies.

Both "Tales of the Underworld" and "Maul: Shadow Lord" promise to enrich the Star Wars universe with compelling narratives and high-quality animation. "Tales of the Underworld" is set to premiere on Disney+ on May 4, 2025, while fans eagerly await the release date for "Maul: Shadow Lord."