source: (ew.com, usatoday.com, starwars.com)

[flash width=640 height=385]http://www.youtube.com/v/PwzRcyCjWnc?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&hd=1[/flash]

So, he's now emaciated and approaching his Visionaries look:



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While Darth Maul is one of my favourite characters from the PT, im amazed (I know I shouldn't be after what George has done on the Blu-Rays) at his return but whats next? Ponda Baba's arm has grown back a Tauntaun shows up with a nasty sctatch on its belly or Jango Fett's head had been stitched back on!

While its bound to be a HUGE ratings winner, to me it's just another twist of the Lucas knife into the fast decaying Star Wars continuity that is, if we take the Clone Wars to be true, official Star Wars cannon.

I don't know that this is that far-fetched. Maybe it will give deeper meaning to the look on Palpatine's face at Qui-Gon's funeral? Maybe Palpy was able to scoop up some remains of Maul, preserve them and have them cloned?
We have an entire fucking Clone Army in Episode II, The Clone Wars and Episode III. This might not be so far out of the realm of Star Wars.

Never thought of the clone idea OH!

Nice little article here with another pic of Maul. Definitely looks like the visionary look whit the gauntlets and the collar round the neck - time will tell I suppose.

From the promo art above which only features Maul torso to this newly released still below featuring longer crown horns -



- it is beginning to look like Visionaries Maul is coming soon.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

This "twist" is not only far-fetched. It's plain ridiculous.

And conveniently tied to the upcoming re-release of Phantom Menace in 3D.

Last year at the LA Savage arch screening, supposedly someone on the creative team stated that Maul’s lower half is not mechanical. So, if he’s not like the Visionaries' model, that leaves either a floating torso (like dark Jedi Maw), a floating torso and independent lower half (like Anakaris),



or Maul’s torso attached to some type of animal a la a Minotaur or Centaur.

What if the top half of Darth Maul's body, had been surgically grafted to a much larger living organism, like say - a gigantic Sarlacc, similar to the one seen on the planet Felucia in The Force Unleashed and Savage has to venture into the gut of the Sarlacc, to find his kin.

And if they don't get Peter Serafinowicz to provide the voice of Maul once again, then it'll be a complete waste of freaking time!

I don’t think he would be attached to something immobile like a Sarlacc. In terms of creatures, his lower half could be a snake, a spider, a scorpion, a hawk (like a fury), an acklay, or even a chimera.



Ever since Lucas mentioned Obi-wan’s home world, I’ve been waiting for it to appear in the series. I wonder if Maul’s revenge plot involves him and his brother attaching Obi-wan’s estranged family.

I think you could be onto something. It would make sense, from a mythological perspective.

Hmmm you may be on to something. But attaching them to what is the question. Like a space Ox cart or something? Or are you thinking of attaching Obi-Wan to his family, like with staples? I can see that episode description "Next week on the Clone Wars: Hilarity ensues when..."

I think I meant attacking his family. It’s either that or I subconsciously want a Human Centipede type episode.

...and I'm just being dork, but I like your idea even better

Soooooo .... anyone else think this has anything to do with the Sam Witwer news? Returning to CW, next year, and it's a known character because he was quoted as saying that he almost had a car crash when Filoni asked him "can you voice..." this character.

This may be the most informative, accurate and compelling post you have ever made.

Wow .. .must've peed in your cornflakes somewhere along the line. Sadly you've made zero fucking impact over here, so other than "some limp-dicked whiner" I have no clue who you are, jerk off.

Yes, it's possible that Witwer will voice him. There's the article about it.

Why not get Peter Serafinowicz - you know, the guy who actually provided the voice for Darth Maul in the actual fucking film?

I've got nothing against Sam Witwer, but you'd think that they would handle Maul's return, with a bit more care and make it as authentic as possible.

It doesn’t sound like Witwer is Maul. He sent an official statement to a fan site stating that his character does not appear until season 5.

[hr]”Sam has asked his admin here at samwitwerfans.com to point out that, as he understand it, he doesn’t think the character shows up until next season. He says he’s not really sure of the details, and that it’s ‘a ways off’ yet. As soon as we get further news or confirmation, we’ll post it here.”[hr]

If Witwer is not Plagueis, maybe he's the new voice of Qui-gon?

That I can assure you he's not. Before Liam Neeson got into the series, James Warwick (who had voiced Qui-Gon on previous videogames) was the one voicing Qui-Gon.

Thanks for the info.; I didn’t realize that. Since the show likes to employ actors who can perform more than one voice, it makes that Stephen Stanton would be Maul. Stanton has voiced both Tarkin and Mas Ammeda in the series and did he Maul’s voice in Battlefronts II:

[flash width=640 height=385]http://www.youtube.com/v/zCw7o-DfhFg?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&hd=1[/flash]

Good ol' Wikipedia. According to my instruction booklet for Battlefront II, "Steve Stanton" plays Alliance Officer 1, Ben Kenobi, and Darth Maul in the game.

Thanks for that bit of info. Having him voice Darth Plagieus would be far cooler than him voicing Maul.

It also states on Peter Serafinowicz's Wiki Page that he also voiced Darth Maul on Battlefront II as well.

I wonder if Darth Plagueis is still skulking around the galaxy during time of the Clone Wars.

A new book featuring Plagueis is being released next year. Interestingly, Darth Maul is featured on the back cover:




Here are the next few episodes:

- Episode 7: Darkness on Umbara - "Anakin relinquishes the command of the 501st as the Legion embarks on a deadly mission. Look out for: Jedi Master Pong Krell, the new commander of the 501st!"

- Episode 8: The General
- Episode 9: Plan of Dissent
- Episode 10: Carnage of Krall
- Episode 11: Kidnapped
- Episode 12: Slaves of the Republic
- Episode 13: Escape from Kadavo

HI-RES versions of previously released promo:

Maybe it could be slightly less ridiculous, if they make Maul a disembodied talking head a'la Murray the Demonic Talking Skull from Monkey Island.

He could be the new comic relief, traveling around with Dooku or someone.

The whole idea of bringing Maul back is absurd. What does it take to kill a Sith Lord around here, eh?

The same thing that it takes to kill [s]Boba Fett[/s] a bounty hunter.

A blind Han Solo and Sarlacc combo?

Not enough.

My favorite part of the article: At a point after [the Battle of Endor], Fett fell in the Sarlacc again, which regurgitated him out.

I guess some people never learn.

If we go by EU, then Palpatine survived the movies as well. Then died again then returned again and was killed again.

Mace Windu wasn't hurt too badly during his long fall either.

Even Darth Maul came back to haunt poor Ben Kenobi on a pair of silly robotic chicken legs. Oh wait...

But we are going by EU, right? This series is part of the EU.

How do you figure that out?

What's interesting is they'll sometimes have little references to post-Endor EU. The Marg Sabl maneuver in Storm Over Ryloth (from the Thrawn Trilogy) and Sidious wanting an organization of Force-sensitive spies in Children of the Force is like an early set-up for the Emperor's Hands (which another famous TT character was part of).

If a mysterious alien using a snake-like staff as a weapon appears, we'll know for sure whether they want to integrate this with both the movies and the post-Endor stuff.

Is that sarcasm?

No it's not Alex.

Clone Wars isn't EU, nor is it part of the EU.
George Lucas is the one coming up with all of these stories - George doesn't do EU, that's something left for the many contracted authors and comic book companies.

Being EU everything outside the saga, yes. Clone Wars is EU.



That's not how it works. GL had his input on many EU works, be it the Clone Wars micro-series, videogames, and novels. And they are all still part of the EU.

I get that having GL working so heavily in it, makes it somewhat more "above EU". But it's part of it nonetheless.

Do you consider “The Clone Wars” canon or part of the Expanded Universe?

Dave Filoni: That’s one of the biggest debates in Star Wars, what counts? The idea of what is canon? When I talk to George I know that he considers his movies, this series and his live-action series canon. And yet as a fan, I bring him a lot of information that is in the Expanded Universe and say, well this was done and this was done too. I get that information in front of him to see how he wants to use it or review it. I’ll try to add little touches and things that I know that the fans that are well versed in the Expanded Universe will know; what we can work in from the Expanded Universe really does gel.

Source

Wasn't aware of this, but friend passed it on from Dave's Facebook page.

Answers to your questions... as many as could be that is
by Dave Filoni on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 4:28pm



• Hey Ian. Ventress’ story is one of the most interesting that we have developed with George. We’ve really gotten into what she is all about, and this season will be no different. There’s much more to her story than people realize, and some awesome new outfits as well. I don’t think we would link up with the comic book storyline though, at least not anytime soon. There is big character development coming for the “hairless harpy.”


• I always have an endgame in sight. George and I have discussed it, but we just keep writing more stories and finding new and exciting situations for the characters. New stories come along that change the end game, so it’s still evolving.

We know we are on a collision course with “Revenge of the Sith,” but there are details surrounding the fate of certain characters that are still in discussion. This is an exciting time for the writing team, because big things are going to happen with significant characters.

• It’s funny that you ask that Eric. Not that long ago George and I were joking about how much better we could tell the stories with the way we produce the animation now. Imagine the Malevolence now. It’s tempting, but at the same time, seeing those episodes reminds me of how much we have evolved as a creative team, and I’m very proud of my crew for that. But if George said “Dave, go make your special edition,” I would not say no.

• What you saw in Season 4 with the Death Watch was just a small taste of what is to come. I think the Mandalorians are involved in one of the best story arcs next season. A great deal is at stake and big things happen. As far as Spar, the clones and the Mandalorians go, you have to understand that in the film saga, and the TV series, clones don’t really identify with Mandalorians.

The vast majority of clones never met Jango Fett, and the series has focused more on the clones having their own culture, rather than adopting a culture that they never really came in contact with. Satine will be returning and I promise you she will have bigger problems than tainted Moogan Tea this time.


• If we do (Order 66), it would be from a different perspective than we saw it in the films.

• I would love to find a place to use Galactic Marines, so we’ll see. Currently they have not shown up as of yet. There are some cool troopers coming though, ones that you have never seen before, but that is a ways off.

• Darth Sidious is a sensitive subject, and so far it has been a conscious decision to never show him other than as a hologram in the series. However, I would look for the dark lord to take a more active role in the future.

• In order to keep the nature of Obi Wan’s mission as secret as possible, the Jedi Council assigned Cody to a mission so he could not attend. A fact that did not sit well with the Commander.

• Sarah, thank you for your support, I really appreciate it. Ahsoka is going to face one of her biggest challenges ever next season. I cannot tell you the details, but it will raise her to her greatest heights, and take her to her darkest moment yet, so hang in there and cross your fingers.[/b]

• I’m glad you ask about Mother Talzin, she’s actually more important than people guess. You are on the right track. What is she all about? Why is she so interested in Savage and Maul? Patience…in time you will know.

Thanks for posting this – I wasn’t aware of it either.

Lot’s of interesting stuff about Order 66, Mandalore, and the Night Sisters. I wonder if it’s all interrelated somehow.

Quite so.

I found it intriguing that they're even contemplating dealing with Order 66 in the series.

In one of the ForceCasts, Dave said that we would be dealing with the genesis of Order 66 (not it's execution, obviously).

I'm kinda stoked to see Sidious get more active as well.

And we all want to see what happens with Snips....do they have the balls to kill her on the show?

That's what makes Ian Abercrombie's death so sad in terms of this show. Just when the Sidious/Palpatine character was going to presumably get more of the spotlight the actor dies. It seemed the more he was in an episode, the better his performance. It'll be interesting to see how far ahead he was able to record his dialogue and who they finally find to replace him.

Check out this this list of upcoming Clone Wars figures from Hasbro - the very last one on the list.
It confirms in what form we're going to see Darth Maul appear in The Clone Wars.

384211860 SW CW CYBORG DARTH MAUL

Other rumours suggest that:
[spoil]Maul's cyborg legs are supposed to be some kind of "spidery, six legged contraption"[/spoil]

LucasFilm held a Episode I 3D press junket which featured a Darth Maul Returns Preview (coverage: ForceCast)



As you can see in the second row, last panel Darth Maul Cyborg is reality.

Then our worst fears have been realized.

Just kidding.

But I swear I've seen a cyborg incarnation of Maul before. As part of some EU project?

UPDATE: Okay, a quick search turned up a bevy of two-legged (rather than six-legged) cyborg Maul illustrations/photos. Looks like the Clone Wars crew is taking another page from the EU.

I hope they pic Sam Witwer. His voice as the emperor in TFU game was amazing

It's like the death and return of Superman, but for Star Wars instead of superhero comic books.