It is well known that the journey of Obi-Wan Kenobi to his Disney+ series has gone through many changes since it was originally envisioned as a movie, and it seems that some of the biggest changes involved the introduction of Darth Vader and cutting of a live-action return for Ray Park as Darth Maul. There is a lot of secrecy around the upcoming show, but that doesn’t mean that there are not some stories coming out about what might have been in the newest addition to the Star Wars franchise.
The trailer for Obi-Wan Kenobi arrived last week, along with the first official images of both Ewan McGregor as Kenobi and the return of Darth Vader. The rematch between the Jedi Master and the Sith Lord is one of the most anticipated events of the series. Thanks to the new footage, we also know that the Inquisitors will also make their first appearance in a live-action Star Wars project. However, one former adversary of Kenobi who will seemingly not be making an appearance will be Darth Maul, who was first seen in The Phantom Menace and made another appearance in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
The Hollywood Reporter revealed that despite Lucasfilm’s denials that Maul was once an option for the series, they have spoken to several different sources that have claimed otherwise, all stating the creative changes of the show for the cutting of the part. Based on the character’s history, there is a lot to suggest that he would, at some point, have been considered an antagonist of Obi-Wan’s story.
Darth Maul is as Much a Nemesis to Kenobi as Darth Vader
For those who have not absorbed everything the Star Wars universe has to offer, the return of Darth Maul may seem like a stretch considering in his main live-action appearance in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace he was killed by Kenobi in a pretty final way of being sliced in half by a lightsaber. However, in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the first animated series from the franchise, Maul was seen to survive his assumed demise and be given a new body, which allowed him to take on Kenobi again throughout that series. Maul appeared two more times, in Solo: A Star Wars Story, and in Star Wars: Rebels, when he was killed by Kenobi again.
How much thought had gone into Maul’s inclusion in Obi-Wan Kenobi is unknown. Although the character would be able to appear in the Kenobi series and keep it canon, there is a lot more attention to be gained from a rematch with Vader than there would be with Maul considering Kenobi’s story with Maul has already been concluded, albeit in animated form. It is clear to see why some would be happy to see Ray Parks return as Darth Maul, but in the grander scheme, there are many more who will be just as pleased with the direction the series seems to be heading instead. You can catch the premiere on Disney+ on May 25.
