The Prophecy And in time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as : THE SON OF THE SUN. And he shall bring Balance to the Force. "Journal of the Whills, 3:12"
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'Maul : Shadow Lord' trailer and release date 31st January 2026
In mid January, the first trailer for 'Maul : Shadow Lord' was revealed ! This new animated 10 part show was first announced at the 2025 Star Wars Celebration, and now it's set to debut this April !
The official tagline summary teases "we find Maul plotting to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire. There, he crosses paths with a disillusioned young Jedi Padawan who may just be the apprentice he is seeking to aid him in his relentless pursuit for revenge.”
The Showrunner Matt Michnovetz says, "it’s a super fast-paced series. We wanted to create an action-packed thrill ride, something that had the rush of a roller coaster, so we do a lot of homages to the classic serials of the day, which gave George Lucas the inspiration for Star Wars. And we’ve got the perfect character to drive us through this in Maul.”
The story takes place one year after the end of the Clone Wars, in the city of Janix, which Michnovetz describes as “one part Gotham, one part Metropolis, and a hundred percent Star Wars with all these different levels and layers.”
It’s a city essentially built into a crater on this planet that is untouched by the Empire. It’s got a functioning democracy and law enforcement doing a good job of policing their own community. It’s a rich environment for crime and gangsters, but so far there’s been a very peaceful accord between all of them in the interest of business.
The Empire is consolidating the galaxy from the core worlds out, and the Inquisitorius is stronger than ever. They’re hunting Jedi and other Force users, doing all kinds of nasty work. The galaxy at large is sort of dealing with this slow rise of the Empire and different groups have different understandings of what the Empire is. The same thing goes for the inquisitors. They’re secret mercenaries that show up out of the darkness.
The show introduces the character of Devon Izara, a red-skinned female Twi’lek Jedi Padawan who has had fans speculating over a Darth Talon connection for months.
The release date is April 6th when two episodes will drop, and will continue to be released weekly until the finale on May the Fourth, for a total of ten episodes.
As I did with the progression of the Virtual Edition Episode X, I will post below sections of the prose for Episode XI as I draft it.... here, the children, Gana and Corsa Solo and Benji Skywalker, are trapped on an unmarked transport heading to a secret rendezvous with an Imperial Star Destroyer....!
The pale red star bore one gaseous giant in its orbit accompanied by an asteroid belt of debris. It’s location was charted, but it’s dormancy meant no trade route in five hundred standard years had gone near it. The star was old and dying, and the planet’s clouds churned and broiled to no witness.
Until recently, when the Imperial scientists on Palpatine’s secret research station XHT-8311 had identified the star and its coordinates from a short historical list of candidates for secure sites. Tagge had authorised the site for one of a handful of shipyards, and now a vast rectoid-shaped scaffold hung in orbit above the gas giant. Smaller cuboid scaffolds were stationed nearby, as well as a singular supervisory station composed in a star-shape of several radiating arms. Much traffic flitted between the scaffolds and the ends of the station arms, comprising materials and machinery as well as labour forces. Giant crane devices on attitude boosters methodically went about their work inside the scaffolds, their subjects ranging from conventional TIE craft and ground assault vehicles to the primary focus of attention within the largest scaffold, the shell of a Star Destroyer, which would afford the New Imperial Empire its third warship. Formations of sentry TIE fighters, three at a time, circled around the vast site.
As if illustrating the end result, Tagge’s second fully armed and shielded Star Destroyer hung above the spectacle like a mother vulture protectively cradling its chicks. However, The Rake’s role was not simply to care-take. The shipyard was a convenient rendezvous point to collect certain consignments. And Tagge wanted The Rake’s Admiral Tyne himself to oversee this operation, from assembly to execution.
Aboard the flagship Star Destroyer Admiral Tyne gazed through the large trapezoid windows of the bridge and regarded the swirling clouds of the gas giant before him. He bore a large grey moustache that matched the silver-grey hair that peeked from under his hat of office, the steel of which underscored the calm but astute blue eyes.
The colourful atmospheric storms put him in mind of the nature of the Pan-Alliance, and the desperate need of a resurgent Imperial Empire to return order amidst the chaos. The political and social landscape required control and oversight otherwise the galaxy would descend into anarchic lawlessness right under their noses, and far too late for Tagge’s Empire to be able to salvage anything remotely manageable.
An aide stepped up to the Admiral.
“Sir,” he interrupted with deference. “A new transport is due to arrive imminently.”
Without turning, the Admiral acknowledged the update. “How many vessels this time ?” he added.
“Only one, sir. From the Florro Sisters on Coruscant.”
Tyne creased his eyes as he mentally reviewed the source. Then he turned to face the aide.
“Those Hutts are fairly reliable. There must be a reason why they’ve only got one ship out to us this time.”
The aide nodded. “We were expecting at least two craft,” he noted. “The operation was deemed to require at least fifteen fighters.”
“This will have to do. Governor Tagge requires us to hold to the locked-in timeframe more than amass a flotilla. Along with the others this should be enough.”
“Once Local Command clears the transport, may I authorise the loading of the fighter when it arrives, sir ?”
The admiral nodded. “Proceed.”
On the edge of the secret shipyard a nondescript transport flashed into view and decelerated sharply. Its shape was a rectangular oblong, with an angled rear loading boarding hatch, and two large hyperdrive capable thrusters on the top hull.
The craft arced wide, and gracefully swept past the star-shaped command station. Shortly after, it adjusted its vector and settled on a bearing that led to the Star Destroyer hanging above the ship-building scaffold.
Inside the opaque cockpit of the blunt-nosed automated transport, Gana and Corsa Solo and Benji Skywalker were sat casually on the narrow strip of maintenance decking. The instrument panels all around them were flickering and pulsing, illuminating the dull amber glow provided by the service lamps. As there was no conventional cockpit window, the children’s eyes were closed allowing them to explore their surroundings in the Force.
“That’s the approach trajectory approved,” muttered Gana, as the transport shifted slightly.
Corsa and Benji nodded.
“Bearing on to the Star Destroyer,” agreed Benji, and his older cousins could hear and sense the anxiety in his voice.
“Definitely a shipyard, I can sense ship frames within those cradle shapes,” confirmed Corsa.
On passing the Local Command Station, the boxy transport climbed towards the Star Destroyer, the vast flat Imperial triangle of its underbelly eclipsing the view of the gas planet and the stars. Central to this plane was the primary hangar bay, the main doors open and the brightness of the interior valiantly competing with the local star. Within the huge hangar, smaller bays of different sizes were located at varying heights along its four walls, with the open ventral portal the only point of entry and exit for all of the bays.
One of the smaller bays on the right hand side lit up its surround with a blue glow as the transport rose within the primary hangar bay. Faint clearance sirens could be heard emanating from the selected bay. The vessel turned slightly to align with the lit bay, and then the blue surround switched to green and a corresponding shimmer appeared in the void as the magnetic shield was deactivated.
With the gateway clear and open, the transport moved forward, extended its landing struts, outgassed its exhausts, and settled upon the decking. Behind the ship, the magnetic shield briefly shimmered once more indicating reactivation. Deck crew appeared from their stations, and moved towards the new arrival.
Inside the transport’s cockpit, the children, eyes wide open now, were intense. They were controlling their fear, but they knew they needed to formulate a plan of action.
Gana spoke first.
“We need to find out what they’re going to do and stop them !” The clear finality was a testament to his father.
“Well at least get word back to mom and dad,” reasoned his sister, echoing the cool and distanced perspective of their mother.
Benji, though, shook his head.
“We’re all alone here, we’re not going to stop them,” he reasoned, “and we may not get out from here...”
“Come on, kiddo !” snapped Gana. “Three Jedi kids ? We could take on the whole Empire ! We can’t just give up !”
The younger cousin smiled, but shook his head once more.
“I’m not saying that. We just have to manage our reality.”
“He’s right,” placated Corsa, and she rested her hand on her brother’s arm.
“Well” answered the boy gruffly, “I’m sure we’ll figure it out as we go along ! Something always crops up !”
Corsa nodded, but the Skywalker cousin simply rolled his eyes.
Just then, the transport shuddered and rocked slightly, and they could hear the whine of the landing gear cycling. There was a slight lurch, and then the motion settled.
“We’re down,” muttered Gana, and the other two nodded.
They heard muffled voices coming from the passenger cabin, and all three leaned forward, stretching out with the Force to explore the new activity.
They could sense the three individuals standing and the leader gesturing to the aft of the ship.
“Can you hear... ?” asked Corsa quietly.
Their young faces creased even more as they tried to gain a sense of the talk.
The Force illustrated to them in fuzzy generalities three human figures wearing formal grey military uniforms. One had his back to where the children were in the cockpit, and appeared to be speaking sternly to the others, giving orders, determining their actions.
“Concerto...” Benji mumbled, and the Skywalker scion directed his cousins’ minds.
Like a poorly tuned receiver, with the speaker facing away from the children, brief words and phrases were fleetingly heard.
“... off-loaded as quick.... Bay Seven... the others.... time is of the essence.... ready for...”
The Force visualised the other two officers nod, and turn away to exit the transport. The officer in charge remained a moment longer, then he too marched towards the rear of the ship.
The children were given the sense that the first two marched away to the left towards some deck crew, whilst the last figure exited the ship and moved towards the right of the hangar bay.
Gana opened his eyes first.
“This is our chance ! Let’s go !”
“Where though ? And do what ?” demanded his sister.
Benji gave a wry grin.
“We don’t know what they want with the X-Wing.... but they don’t have to have it in any working order, do they ?”
The Solo Twins’ eyes flashed with mischief, immediately sharing their cousin’s idea.
“Sabotage !” whispered Gana excitedly.
“Great ! But how ?” responded Corsa, ever practical.
“Come on,” said Benji, nodding towards the main body of the transport, and the young boy set off. His cousins followed close on his heels, and they made their way through the recently vacated passenger cabin, and into the main hold.
Before them sat the X-Wing. A fine and elegant starfighter, yet deadly in the hands of a skilled pilot. Synonymous with the old Rebellion and its successor, the Pan-Alliance. Closed ship-foils, tapered nose, four hyperdrive capable thrusters. The children noted that the pilot designation markings had been removed. The transport’s boarding ramp was open, and the Star Destroyer hangar bay could be seen beyond.
“Beautiful,” mumbled Gana, in awe at the sight of the X-Wing. “Do we have to nix it ??!”
Benji nodded. “We need to do something. We can’t let it get into the hands of the Empire. Or at least delay them.”
“What can we do ?” asked Corsa.
Benji looked thoughtfully at the ship. His eyes fell on the rivets holding the fuselage and the engine cowlings. The Force whispered to him.
“Loosen the rivets,” he announced, pointing at the ship’s plates. “Let’s focus on the engines fixings.”
The other two didn’t question him, and simply nodded.
“We’ll be quicker and stronger if we act in-concerto,” said Gana, and the other two agreed.
The three children arranged themselves around the port-side lower engine beside the sweeping wing.
They raised their right hands towards the plating, and closed their eyes. Benji muttered the focusing command, and they called upon the Force.
There came a metallic creaking sound, and all the rivets on the engine cowling, in unison, began to slowly unscrew. A moment later, the movement had quickened, and then suddenly the rivets all popped out. The panelling fell and clattered to the deck with a loud echoing clang.
The engine machinery was laid bare.
The children opened their eyes and gazed upon the myriad of combustion engineering.
“What do we do now ?” asked Corsa.
“There !” pointed Gana. “If we take out those cables and that piping, that will render the engine pretty useless !”
The children closed their eyes once again, and stretched out with their hands. As their fingers plucked at the air, corresponding cables snapped away, and piping burst, ejecting gasses and fluids.
“Right !” said Benji. “Let’s see if we can get one more done before anyone arrives !” he announced.
The three youngsters ducked under the fuselage and lined up beside the starboard lower engine.
Within moments the plating was off and the engine machinery was visible. Loud snaps and puffs were heard as cables and pipes broke and vacuum seals released.
Just then, a collection of loadlift-droids arrived at the base of the open boarding ramp, and two human deck-hands in black uniforms followed behind. The droids were beeping and whistling to each other, and one of the labourers was grumbling aimlessly back. His words floated in towards the children.
