Lucasfilm Animation VP Discusses Underworld Tales and Maul: Shadow Lord: 'An Enhanced Experience'

Star Wars fans have much to look forward to, as recent announcements at Star Wars Celebration Japan hint at an exciting lineup of animated projects. In an exclusive interview with IGN, Athena Portillo, Vice President of Animation at Lucasfilm, shed light on two highly anticipated series: the newly announced Tales of the Underworld and Maul: Shadow Lord.

Portillo expressed immense enthusiasm about collaborating with Sam Witwer, the iconic voice behind Darth Maul, on Maul: Shadow Lord. "Sam was deeply involved with the character's depth and lore, working closely with our head writer and supervising director," she shared during the event. "He and [Lucasfilm CCO Dave] Filoni co-created the character in animation, so he's intimately involved, from reading scripts to providing feedback on everything from whip reels to color palettes."

This series marks a significant exploration into the enduring villain Darth Maul, whom Portillo humorously compared to horror icons like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees. "Darth Maul has seemingly died multiple times, yet he keeps returning. In Maul: Shadow Lord, we delve deep into his history and explore his narrative further," she explained.

How Darth Maul Went From Supporting Villain to Star Wars Icon

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Portillo highlighted the significant advancements in Lucasfilm Animation's production techniques, emphasizing improvements in animation, lighting, effects, matte paintings, and asset creation. "When Dave Filoni initiated the Maul series post-Covid, he challenged our team to step out of their comfort zones," she recounted. "He urged us to create something that surpasses our previous work, and we've seen upgrades in body mechanics, facial animations, and lighting. After watching one of our episodes, Filoni remarked, 'Wow, you guys are actually creating cinema.'"

Portillo confirmed that Maul: Shadow Lord is an upgrade even from recent projects like The Bad Batch and Tales of the Underworld, with its release slated for 2026.

Tales of the Underworld will feature six episodes, split evenly between Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane, exploring their journeys as villains. Ventress's narrative, according to Portillo, will focus on her rebirth, facilitated by Mother Talzin, and her evolving relationship with a young boy in the series' opening short. "Ventress's story delves into her past and her path forward, exploring themes of redemption and personal growth," Portillo noted.

Portillo also touched on the fan-favorite connection between Ventress and Quinlan Vos, as seen in the Dark Disciple novel. "The love story between Quinlan Vos and Ventress resonates deeply with fans, especially given the Jedi's supposed detachment from such emotions," she said. "It's a narrative thread that echoes other iconic Star Wars love stories like Obi-Wan and Satine, or Anakin and Padmé."

Both Tales of the Underworld and Maul: Shadow Lord promise to expand the Star Wars universe in captivating ways. Tales of the Underworld is set to premiere on Disney+ on May 4, 2025, while fans eagerly await further details on the release of Maul: Shadow Lord.