The latest trailer for Obi-Wan Kenobi surprised fans who’ve been waiting for the highly-anticipated Disney Plus series. It became clear that various inquisitors, hunters of Jedi, would be introduced in live-action for the first time since their animated appearances. Fans then speculated that another character known more for their animated appearances as opposed to live-action, Darth Maul, would also be appearing in the show. While Darth Maul first appeared in The Phantom Menace, it wasn’t until the animated shows Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels that he really came into his own. Despite this, it appears that Darth Maul was reportedly cut from the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.
This information comes via THR, where it was reported that original Darth Maul actor Ray Park would’ve returned. For whatever reason, however, he was reportedly removed from the Disney Plus series when the project was overhauled. The show did go through quite a few iterations during its development, so it does seem like a plausible scenario.
As they’ve stated:
“One source says Park was on set for preproduction and was also involved in stunt training. The source says footage of Park may have been shot, although another source says it could have been test footage. Whatever the case, Park was back as Maul, or so he believed.”
Ultimately, however, they stated that “Maul was written out.” A Lucasfilm source attempted to contradict this, interestingly stating that “Maul was never intended to return for the series.” Either way, it looks like fans that were hoping to see Darth Maul in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series will be disappointed. But considering the character’s fate in Star Wars: Rebels, it’s probably for the best.
The new limited series Obi-Wan Kenobi was directed by Deborah Chow and executive-produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Deborah Chow, Ewan McGregor and Joby Harold.
Aside from Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader, the cast for the series also includes Moses Ingram, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell and Benny Safdie.
Obi-Wan Kenobi will premiere on Disney Plus on May 25.