A brand-new teaser for the upcoming Star WarsTV Show Maul: Shadow Lordkicks off with the voice of Emperor Palpatine himself, but that may not mean what you think.
Shadow Lord will be set just after the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, in what is known as the Dark Times in the Star Wars timeline. The story, although it’s largely been kept under wraps, is confirmed to center on the titular villain Maul, who was once Darth Maul, Palpatine/Darth Sidious’ Sith apprentice.
However, after Maul’s apparent death in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Palpatine brought on a new apprentice, Count Dooku, who took Maul’s place. He, too, was eventually replaced when Anakin Skywalker decapitated him in Revenge of the Sith and ultimately became Palpatine’s new Sith apprentice, the infamous Darth Vader.
It is that specific succession that the new Shadow Lord teaser seems to reference. The video, posted to Star Wars‘ official Instagram account, begins with Palpatine’s voice (presumably speaking to Maul) saying, “You have been replaced” and then doing his signature evil laugh.
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Some have begun to speculate that this means yet another Palpatine appearance in Star Wars—a touchy subject after his extremely controversial sudden appearance in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. However, the specific line Palpatine delivers in the teaser is telling. While it’s possible that Palpatine will be a character in the show, it seems more likely that this concept that Palpatine replaced him will frame Maul’s Shadow Lord story.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars already laid the groundwork for that, with Maul telling Ahsoka Tano how he had been cast aside by Palpatine during the Siege of Mandalore battle. Given that Shadow Lord is going to show how Maul survived during the Dark Times, it would make sense for the show to depict his anger and bitterness over being replaced and explore how that shaped his story in the long term.
The teaser also offers an interesting twist on Star Wars’ previous mantra, “I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me.” Maul’s version is apparently, “I master the Force, and the Force serves me,” which is a complete reversal of how the Force is meant to be used. This, too, sets up a fascinating focus for Shadow Lord, which may offer audiences a much closer look at how differently dark side Force-users view (and use) the Force.
Maul: Shadow Lord debuts with a two-episode premiere on Disney+ on April 6.
