Lucasfilm VP Discusses New Animation Projects: 'An Upgrade'

The Star Wars Celebration Japan has set the stage for a thrilling future filled with animated projects, and fans are in for a treat. Athena Portillo, Vice President of Animation at Lucasfilm, shared exciting details with IGN about two upcoming series: the newly announced "Tales of the Underworld" and "Maul: Shadow Lord."

Portillo's enthusiasm was palpable when discussing the collaboration with Sam Witwer, the voice behind Darth Maul in Star Wars animations, on "Maul: Shadow Lord." She emphasized Witwer's significant role in shaping the character's depth and lore alongside head writer and supervising director Dave Filoni. "Sam was involved a lot with the character depth and the lore," Portillo stated. "He's involved with the character depth of Maul, because both him and Dave Filoni created the character together in animation, and he gets to read the scripts, watch the whip reels, and provide input."

This series promises a deeper exploration of Darth Maul, a character often seen as an eternal villain in the Star Wars universe. Portillo likened Maul to iconic horror figures like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, noting, "Like you keep killing them, but they keep coming back. There is that threat that's there, right? I mean, it's Star Wars, right? So Darth Maul has passed away so many times, but he does keep coming back. …We are diving into Maul’s history and we get to jump into that in the stories."

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Portillo highlighted the significant advancements in Lucasfilm Animation's production, including "the animation, the lighting, the effects, the matte paintings, the lighting concepts, the assets." She recounted Filoni's challenge to the team post-Covid to push beyond their comfort zones, resulting in a remarkable upgrade in the animation style, body mechanics, facial animation, and lighting. "When Filoni watched one of our episodes last week, his comment was, 'Wow, you guys, you are actually creating cinema'. He was proud of what Lucasfilm Animation has achieved with this show," Portillo shared.

She also noted that "Maul: Shadow Lord" represents a step up from previous projects like "The Bad Batch" and "Tales of the Underworld," which was recently completed. "Maul: Shadow Lord" is slated for release in 2026, but work is still ongoing.

"Tales of the Underworld" will delve into the lives of Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane, each character receiving three episodes for a total of six. Ventress' storyline focuses on her return facilitated by Mother Talzin and her encounters with a young boy, leading to a narrative about two Jedi on the run and a budding relationship.

Portillo confirmed that "Tales of the Underworld" picks up where the "Dark Disciple" novel left off, particularly exploring the connection between Ventress and Quinlan Vos. "When the fans saw that, and when he said, 'I will always love you,' it blew everyone away," she revealed, highlighting the appeal of love stories within the Jedi narrative, akin to those of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Satine, or Padme and Anakin.

Ventress' journey in the series also reflects on her past and her current path, with Portillo noting, "Sometimes after they've gone through a lot, they start to rethink their path, and which way they want to go. Some choose a path of exile in a way, where they don't want to be a part of what their history has been. And then others turn to the dark side, as we've seen. So, with her story, it's going to be more of, you know, let's just say sometimes people come into your life for a reason to make you a better person, and the character that she meets in this first short is a good balance."

Both "Tales of the Underworld" and "Maul: Shadow Lord" promise to enrich the Star Wars universe with their unique narratives and enhanced animation. "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."