Lucasfilm Animation VP Discusses Tales of the Underworld and Maul: Shadow Lord: 'An Upgrade'

The excitement surrounding upcoming animated Star Wars projects is palpable, especially after the recent Star Wars Celebration Japan. Athena Portillo, Vice President of Animation at Lucasfilm, shared exclusive insights with IGN about two highly anticipated series: the newly announced Tales of the Underworld and the Maul: Shadow Lord series.

Portillo expressed immense enthusiasm about collaborating with Sam Witwer, the iconic voice behind Darth Maul in Star Wars animated projects, on the development of Maul: Shadow Lord. "Sam was deeply involved with the character's depth and lore, working closely with our head writer and supervising director," she told IGN during Star Wars Celebration Japan. "He's been instrumental in shaping Maul's character since he and Lucasfilm CCO Dave Filoni created him for animation. Sam reviews scripts, watches rough cuts, and provides valuable feedback."

While Darth Maul has been a recurring figure in Star Wars lore, Maul: Shadow Lord promises to explore his story in unprecedented depth. Portillo playfully likened Maul to horror icons like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, noting, "He's like a character you keep killing, but he keeps coming back. There's always that looming threat. In Star Wars, Maul has died multiple times, yet he continues to return. We're diving deep into his history with these new stories."

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Portillo highlighted significant advancements in Lucasfilm Animation's production techniques, emphasizing enhancements in "animation, lighting, effects, matte paintings, lighting concepts, and assets." She recounted how, post-COVID, Dave Filoni urged the team to push beyond their comfort zones. "Filoni told us to step out of complacency and aim for something greater," she said. "This led to upgrades in animation style, body mechanics, facial animations, and all our body rigs, along with improved lighting. When Filoni reviewed one of our episodes, he remarked, 'Wow, you guys are actually creating cinema.' He was incredibly proud of what Lucasfilm Animation has achieved with this show."

Portillo confirmed that Maul: Shadow Lord represents a significant leap forward, even surpassing the quality of The Bad Batch and Tales of the Underworld. "It's an upgrade from everything we've done before, and we're still refining it for a 2026 release," she added.

Tales of the Underworld will delve into the lives of Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane, each receiving three episodes to explore their journeys as villains. Portillo shared that Ventress's storyline will focus on her resurrection by Mother Talzin, leading to a narrative about two Jedi on the run. "Ventress meets a boy in the first short, and their relationship develops across the three episodes," she explained.

Addressing fan theories about Ventress's fate after the Dark Disciple novel, Portillo confirmed that Tales of the Underworld continues directly from that storyline. "The connection between Quinlan Vos and Ventress was a fan favorite, especially when Vos declared his love for her," she said. "Fans are eager to see more of these forbidden love stories, similar to those of Obi-Wan and Satine or Anakin and Padme."

Portillo also touched on Ventress's introspection and her struggle with her past. "After facing many trials, some characters reconsider their paths. Ventress's journey involves meeting someone who helps her become a better person," she noted.

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