LucasfilmEver since The Mandalorian premiered in 2019, Star Wars animated series have always received the short end of the stick. Live-action series like Andor got nominated for Emmy Awards, while animated series like The Bad Batch or anthologies like Visions, Tales of the Jedi, and Tales of the Empire often go unwatched as they’re not considered “necessary” to canon. Now, the next Star Wars animated series is in danger of falling into the same issue, but a huge announcement by Lucasfilm just made it much more important to the Star Wars timeline as a whole. Maul: Shadow Lord is already renewed for a second season, despite the fact it won’t premiere on Disney+ for a few more days. | LucasfilmWe’re only a few days away from the premiere of Maul: Shadow Lord, the animated series following Maul (Sam Witwer) as he climbs the ranks as a crime lord during the Imperial Era. But before anyone has seen his double-sided lightsaber wreak havoc once again, Star Wars announced Maul: Shadow Lord has been renewed for Season 2, marking the first Star Wars series to be renewed for a Season 2 before the premiere. This is a huge boon for the series, as it means Lucasfilm is confident enough in it that the audience response isn’t even a factor — the hype proves the demand is there for a Maul-based series. He’s not the only draw, though, as the series also features some terrifying Inquisitors, including Marrok, who made his debut in the live-action Star Wars series Ahsoka, which is also gearing up for its second season. Perhaps he’s the good luck charm. Maul was previously a recurring character on previous Star Wars animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. | LucasfilmThis announcement also allows us to speculate on the story included in Maul: Shadow Lord itself. Usually, when Disney renews a series so early, it’s because a major cliffhanger is on its way, like how Loki Season 1 ended with an announcement of Season 2 after showing the breakdown of the timeline as we know it. What kind of cliffhanger is in store to necessitate a renewal before a single episode has aired? This could be a Star Wars story for the ages. Maul: Shadow Lord will release episodes weekly until May 4, aka Star Wars Day, so if there’s any day to make a big statement, it’s that one. This series, once considered just a schedule-filling spinoff series, could have the potential to change Star Wars forever. Or, at the very least, it’ll change the constant worry that it’ll be yet another Disney+ one-season wonder. Maul: Shadow Lord premieres April 6, 2026, on Disney+.