Star Wars Celebration Japan signals a thrilling future for animated Star Wars projects. Athena Portillo, Lucasfilm's Vice President of Animation, shared insights with IGN about two highly anticipated series: the newly revealed Tales of the Underworld and Maul: Shadow Lord.

Portillo expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with Sam Witwer, the voice of Darth Maul in Star Wars animation, on Maul: Shadow Lord. “Sam deeply shaped the character’s depth and lore alongside our head writer and supervising director,” she told IGN at Star Wars Celebration Japan. “He reviews scripts, watches whip reels, and provides input on pool color and more.”

While Maul is no stranger to fans, this series marks the first deep dive into the enduring villain’s story. “I jokingly tell the Lucasfilm Animation team that Maul is like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees—you think he’s gone, but he keeps returning,” Portillo said. “In Star Wars, Maul has died multiple times, yet he persists. This show explores his history in depth.”

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Portillo emphasized the production advancements in the series, highlighting improvements in animation, lighting, effects, matte paintings, and assets. “These elements elevate our work significantly,” she noted.

“When Dave Filoni launched the Maul series post-Covid, he challenged the team to step out of their comfort zones,” Portillo shared. “He urged us to create something extraordinary, upgrading body mechanics, facial animation, and lighting. After reviewing an episode, Filoni said, ‘You’re crafting cinema.’ He’s truly proud of what we’ve accomplished.”

Portillo added, “This series surpasses our previous work, including The Bad Batch and Tales of the Underworld, which we just finished. Maul: Shadow Lord, set for release in 2026, continues to evolve.”

Tales of the Underworld follows Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane, with three episodes dedicated to each character, totaling six. Ventress’ arc focuses on her return, enabled by Mother Talzin. “Her story begins with meeting a boy in the first short, forming a bond as two Jedi on the run,” Portillo explained. “It’s a compelling relationship-driven narrative across the three episodes.”

Ventress’ arc ties into the Dark Disciple novel, where her death and rebirth were debated as canon. Portillo confirmed, “Tales of the Underworld continues that storyline. The Quinlan Vos and Ventress connection, especially his ‘I will always love you’ moment, stunned fans. These forbidden love stories—like Obi-Wan and Satine or Anakin and Padmé—resonate deeply.”

Portillo noted Ventress’ journey involves confronting her past. “Some characters rethink their paths after hardship, choosing exile or the dark side,” she said. “Ventress meets someone who helps her grow, balancing her story in the first short.”

Both series promise to expand the Star Wars universe in exciting ways. Tales of the Underworld premieres on Disney+ on May 4, 2025, while Maul: Shadow Lord’s release date is still forthcoming.