Lucasfilm Animation VP Discusses New Series: 'An Upgrade in Our Storytelling'

The excitement for upcoming animated Star Wars projects reached a fever pitch at Star Wars Celebration Japan, where Athena Portillo, Vice President of Animation at Lucasfilm, shared exclusive insights with IGN about two highly anticipated series: "Tales of the Underworld" and "Maul: Shadow Lord." These projects promise to enrich the Star Wars universe with compelling narratives and enhanced production values.

Portillo expressed her enthusiasm for working with Sam Witwer, the voice behind Darth Maul, on "Maul: Shadow Lord." She emphasized Witwer's significant contributions to the character's depth and lore, highlighting his collaboration with head writer and supervising director Dave Filoni. "Sam was involved a lot with the character depth and the lore, along with our head writer and supervising director," Portillo shared. "He's involved with the character depth of Maul, because both him and [Lucasfilm CCO Dave] Filoni created the character together in animation, and you know, he gets to read the scripts, he gets to watch the whip reels, he gets to watch the pool color. He provides input."

The series aims to explore the enduring legacy of Darth Maul, a character who has repeatedly defied death. Portillo humorously likened Maul to iconic horror figures like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, underscoring his persistent presence in the Star Wars saga. "My joke for the Lucasfilm Animation team is it's kind of like Michael Meyers or like Jason Voorhees. 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 significant enhancements in the production process for "Maul: Shadow Lord," including advancements in animation, lighting, effects, matte paintings, and lighting concepts. She shared Filoni's directive to the team to push beyond their comfort zones. "When Filoni kicked off the Maul show, which was after Covid, people were getting back into the swing of coming back to work, but he said, ‘You all need to pull yourself out of complacency, you all need to pull yourself out of your comfort level. Being uncomfortable is a good feeling, and it leads you to greater things. So, create something that is an upgrade of what we're used to doing,’ both in the animation style such as the body mechanics, facial animation, we updated all of our body rigs, and then all the lighting, everything," she explained. "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 added that "Maul: Shadow Lord" represents a step up from previous works, including "The Bad Batch" and "Tales of the Underworld." She noted that while "Tales of the Underworld" has already been completed, "Maul: Shadow Lord" is slated for release in 2026.

"Tales of the Underworld" will delve into the lives of Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane, with each character featured in three episodes. Portillo shared that Ventress' storyline will explore her rebirth, as influenced by Mother Talzin, and her evolving relationship with a young boy they encounter. "Ventress’ three shorts will specifically center around 'the fact that Mother Talzin gave her an opportunity to come back,' according to Portillo, 'so Ventress meets the boy you see in the first short, and it becomes two Jedi on the run, and you'll see like a relationship story created in the three shorts.'"

The series picks up from the events of the "Dark Disciple" novel, confirming Ventress' resurrection and her connection with Quinlan Vos, a storyline that has captivated fans. Portillo highlighted the emotional impact of Vos' declaration of love for Ventress, a narrative thread that resonates deeply with viewers. "Yeah. My favorite part of that is the whole Quinlan Vos and Ventress connection. When the fans saw that, and when he said, ‘I will always love you,’ it blew everyone away," she revealed. "I think fans want to see that, you know, especially since Jedi are not supposed to get involved, but there's always that love story. There was the Obi-Wan Kenobi and Satine story, and obviously Padme and Anakin, and now Ventress and Quinlan Vos. I love those types of stories."

Ventress' journey in "Tales of the Underworld" will also explore her introspection and choices about her past, as she navigates her path forward. "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," Portillo said. "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" are poised to offer fresh perspectives and deep dives into the Star Wars universe. "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."