Darth Maul facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Darth Maul
Star Wars character
Ray Park as Maul
First appearance	The Phantom Menace (1999)
Created by	George Lucas
Portrayed by	Ray Park
Voiced by	Peter Serafinowicz Sam Witwer Other: Gregg Berger Clint Bajakian Jess Harnell Stephen Stanton Lee Tockar
Information
Species	Dathomirian Zabrak
Gender	Male
Occupation	Dark Lord of the Sith Leader of the Shadow Collective Ruler of Mandalore
Affiliation	Nightbrothers Sith Order Trade Federation Shadow Collective: Sub-groups: Death Watch (leader) Black Sun Pyke Syndicate Hutt Clan Crimson Dawn
Family	Savage Opress (brother) Mother Talzin (mother) Feral (brother) Legends: Kycina (mother)
Weapon	Double-bladed lightsaber
Home	Dathomir
Master	Darth Sidious
Apprentices	Savage Opress Devon Izara Dryden Vos Qi'ra

Darth Maul, often called just Maul, is a famous character from the Star Wars universe. George Lucas created him. He first appeared in the movie The Phantom Menace in 1999. Maul also appeared in animated TV shows like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. He was also in the movie Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). His story continued in the animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord which started in 2026.

Maul is a Zabrak from the planet Dathomir. He was a strong Sith Lord, trained by Darth Sidious to use the dark side of the Force. In his first big battle, he seriously injured Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Then, Qui-Gon's student, Obi-Wan Kenobi, defeated Maul in a lightsaber duel. Amazingly, Maul survived this defeat. His brother, Savage Opress, found him years later during the Clone Wars. With the help of Mother Talzin and some special technology, Maul recovered. He became a powerful leader of criminal groups. Maul had a strong desire for revenge against Obi-Wan. He even took control of Mandalore and caused the end of Duchess Satine Kryze's life. Later, he escaped from Sidious and continued his plans. Maul eventually found Obi-Wan again on Tatooine. Their final battle led to Maul's defeat.

Ray Park played Maul in the movies, and Peter Serafinowicz was his voice in The Phantom Menace. Later, Sam Witwer became the main voice for Maul in animated shows and Solo. Maul is known for his scary look and his unique double-bladed lightsaber. Even with limited time in his first movie, he became a very popular villain. His story grew much bigger in The Clone Wars, making him even more famous among Star Wars fans.

Characteristics

Creating Darth Maul's Look

George Lucas, the director of The Phantom Menace, wanted Maul to look like something from a nightmare. Early ideas showed him as a masked character, similar to Darth Vader. Concept artist Iain McCaig helped design his unique face. He used a special technique, like a Rorschach test, to create Maul's striking facial tattoos. McCaig said the tattoos were inspired by the muscles of a face.

Maul's head was first planned to have feathers. But the special effects team changed these into the horns we see today. These horns made him look even more like a classic villain.

His clothes were also designed for action. They changed from a tight suit to a flowing Sith robe. This allowed for all the jumping and spinning needed in lightsaber fights.

Years later, George Lucas wanted to bring Maul back for The Clone Wars. Many thought this was impossible since he was cut in half. But Lucas challenged the creators to find a way, and they did!

Who Played Darth Maul?

Ray Park, an actor and martial artist, played Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Peter Serafinowicz was the voice of Maul in The Phantom Menace.

When Maul returned in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Sam Witwer took over his voice. Witwer continued to voice Maul in many other projects, including Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. Other actors have also voiced Maul in different games and shows.

Maul's Special Lightsaber

Darth Maul is famous for his red double-bladed lightsaber. He uses it like a staff, spinning it with great skill. In Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, the movie prop was made from resin over a metal rod. This design made his fights very exciting to watch.

Maul's Vehicles

Maul uses a special speeder bike called the Bloodfin. He also has his own starship, the Scimitar. This ship is also known as the Sith Infiltrator. After his defeat on Naboo, his old master took back the Scimitar.

Appearances

Maul in the Movies

The Phantom Menace

In his first movie, Darth Maul was sent by Darth Sidious to capture Queen Padmé Amidala. Maul tracked her to Tatooine. There, he had a short fight with Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Qui-Gon realized the Sith had returned.

Later, Maul fought Qui-Gon and his student, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Maul defeated Qui-Gon. But Obi-Wan, using Qui-Gon's lightsaber, cut Maul in half. Maul fell down a deep shaft.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

At the end of Solo, Maul appeared as the secret leader of a crime group called Crimson Dawn. After Qi'ra defeated Dryden Vos, she spoke to Maul. He told her to meet him on Dathomir. He then lit his lightsaber, showing his power.

Planned Sequel Trilogy Role

George Lucas had ideas for Maul to be a main villain in the sequel films. He imagined Maul as a powerful crime boss. However, these plans changed when Disney bought Lucasfilm.

Maul in Animated Series

The Clone Wars

Darth Maul in the final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars

In season three, we learned Maul was from the Nightbrothers clan on Dathomir. His mother, Mother Talzin, sent his brother Savage Opress to find him. Maul had been living alone and was not well after his defeat by Obi-Wan.

In season four, Savage found Maul on a junkyard planet. Maul had used the Force to build spider-like legs. Talzin used magic to heal his mind and gave him new cybernetic legs. Maul then sought revenge on Obi-Wan.

In season five, Maul made Savage his student. They started building a criminal empire. They joined with the Death Watch, a Mandalorian group, to take over Mandalore. Maul defeated their leader, Pre Vizsla, and became the new ruler. He then set a trap for Obi-Wan. When Obi-Wan arrived, Maul caused the end of Duchess Satine Kryze's life.

Later, Darth Sidious learned Maul was alive and powerful. Sidious came to Mandalore and fought Maul and Savage. Sidious defeated Savage. Maul fought bravely but was also defeated. Sidious kept Maul alive for his own plans.

In the final season, Maul still led his crime groups. He ruled Mandalore until Bo-Katan Kryze and the Galactic Republic attacked. During the Siege of Mandalore, Maul confronted Ahsoka Tano. He shared his visions of the future, warning her about Sidious. He even asked her to join him to stop Sidious. But Ahsoka refused, and they fought. Ahsoka captured Maul.

Maul was being taken to trial when Order 66 happened. This order made clone troopers turn against their Jedi leaders. Ahsoka rescued Maul to create a distraction. Maul then escaped in a shuttle, leaving Ahsoka behind.

Star Wars Rebels

An older Maul appeared in Star Wars Rebels. He was stranded on the Sith world of Malachor. There, he met Ezra Bridger, a young Jedi student. Maul pretended to be an "old master" and gained Ezra's trust. He led Ezra to an ancient Sith temple.

Maul then turned on the Jedi, wanting Ezra as his new student. He blinded Kanan Jarrus, Ezra's master. Kanan then pushed Maul off the temple's edge, but Maul survived.

In the third season, Maul captured Ezra's friends. He forced Ezra and Kanan to bring him special holocrons. Maul and Ezra combined the holocrons, seeing visions. Ezra saw a way to defeat the Sith. Maul saw a vision of his own.

Maul later tracked Obi-Wan to Tatooine. He used Ezra to draw Obi-Wan out. Obi-Wan rescued Ezra. Maul realized Obi-Wan was protecting someone important. They had a final, short duel. Obi-Wan defeated Maul. As Maul passed away, he asked if the person Obi-Wan was protecting was the "Chosen One". Obi-Wan confirmed it.

Tales of the Jedi

Maul is mentioned in the animated series Tales of the Jedi. Count Dooku and Darth Sidious speak of him in one episode.

Maul – Shadow Lord

Maul is the main character in the animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. This show is set after the Clone Wars. It follows Maul as he tries to rebuild his criminal groups and train a new student.

Maul in Comics

Darth Maul (2017)

Marvel Comics released a 5-issue series called Star Wars: Darth Maul in 2017. It showed Maul's training under Darth Sidious before The Phantom Menace. The comic explored how Maul was taught to hate the Jedi.

Age of the Republic (2018–19)

Maul had his own comic in the Age of the Republic series. It showed a short story about him before The Phantom Menace. In it, Maul went on a mission for Sidious and had a vision of a different life.

Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir (2014)

Dark Horse Comics created Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir. This comic was based on unmade episodes of The Clone Wars. It showed what happened after Sidious defeated Maul in season five.

Maul escaped from a prison. He tried to rebuild his Shadow Collective. He even tried to capture Count Dooku and General Grievous to lure Sidious. His mother, Mother Talzin, sacrificed herself to save him. But his criminal groups fell apart.

Maul in Novels

Ahsoka

The novel Star Wars: Ahsoka tells about Maul's final days on Mandalore. He fought Ahsoka Tano during the Siege of Mandalore. Ahsoka captured him. But then Order 66 happened. Ahsoka had to save Captain Rex, allowing Maul to escape.

These events were later shown in the final season of The Clone Wars.

Maul in Video Games

Maul has appeared in many Star Wars video games. He is sometimes a powerful enemy or a character you can play as.

Maul was planned to be the main character of a game called Battle of the Sith Lords. This game was set before The Phantom Menace but was canceled in 2011.

Legends Stories of Maul

After 2012, many older Star Wars stories were called Star Wars Legends. These stories are not part of the main Star Wars timeline anymore.

Legends Comics

The Darth Maul comic series from Dark Horse Comics showed Maul's missions before The Phantom Menace. He worked for Darth Sidious, fighting crime groups like Black Sun.

Some Legends stories imagined Maul returning from defeat in different ways. One story showed a cult creating a copy of Maul. Another showed a hologram of Maul from his salvaged brain.

In 2005, a comic called "Old Wounds" showed Maul surviving his defeat by Obi-Wan. He had cybernetic legs, like General Grievous. He tracked Obi-Wan to Tatooine, planning to take Luke Skywalker to Emperor Palpatine. Maul fought Obi-Wan again, but Obi-Wan defeated him. Maul was then stopped by Owen Lars.

Legends Novels

In 2012, a young adult novel called Star Wars: The Wrath of Darth Maul was released. Maul also appeared in comics like The Clone Wars: The Sith Hunters. These stories followed Maul and Savage Opress as they sought revenge on the Jedi.

The 2012 novel Darth Plagueis described Maul's early life. It showed how Darth Sidious found Maul as a baby on Dathomir. Sidious trained Maul to be a powerful, but disposable, servant.

Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter

Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter is a novel from 2001. It takes place about six months before The Phantom Menace. In this story, Maul was raised by Sidious and trained as a Sith. He went on missions to cause trouble for his master.

Sidious sent Maul to find a traitor who had proof of Sith plans. Maul found the traitor, but the proof ended up with a con man named Lorn Pavan. Pavan tried to take the information to the Jedi Temple. Maul was ordered to stop him.

Maul fought Jedi and Pavan. He defeated a Jedi Master. Pavan and a Jedi student named Darsha Assant escaped. Darsha later sacrificed herself to stop Maul, allowing Pavan to hide.

Pavan later gave the information to Senator Palpatine, not knowing Palpatine was Sidious. Maul then found Pavan and defeated him.

Darth Maul: Saboteur

Darth Maul: Saboteur is a short novel from 2001. It is set about a year before The Phantom Menace. It tells about Maul's first solo mission. He tried to destroy two mining companies to help the Trade Federation.

Maul: Lockdown

Maul: Lockdown is a novel from 2014. It was the last Star Wars Legends novel. Before The Phantom Menace, Maul was sent to a galactic prison. He had to find a powerful weapon. In the prison, criminals fought in gladiatorial battles. Maul faced challenges from Jabba the Hutt and other dangerous foes.

See also

In Spanish: Darth Maul para niños