CLASSIC ART: THE DARK SIDE ASSEMBLES...

Led by the ultimate monster in Darth Vader, the ultimate villains of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, whom we so love to hate, come together in all their might for evil and destruction, in this superb Celebration Convention art by Doug Wheatley.

EPISODE I: LOCKED IN COMBAT!

Their mysterious Sith assassin enemy now fully revealed, and armed with a lethal double-edge lightsaber no less, the last Jedi standing, Obi-Wan Kenobi, faces his ultimate trial in combat against Darth Maul within the environs of the Theed power room. Another great behind the scenes image from EPISODE I.

WHEN SITH'S COLLIDE! THE 'SHADOW LORD' MEETS HIS MATCH!

He's back, and badder than ever in Maul - Shadow Lord's gripping opening season finale.

It was the showdown worldwide Star Wars fans always wanted to see made a reality away from prior comic interpretations, as a non-speaking Darth Vader, a Sith Lord with slaying on his mind, menacingly took on the renegade Darth Maul, now out to build a new criminal enterprise for himself across the galaxy, and his reluctant fugitive comrades (including two runaway Jedi), all of them trapped within the jungle outskirts of the planet Janix, a world to which there now looked like no escape from. The confrontation/unleashing of Vader, returned to welcome animation form, was a big surprise and it proved a stunning action sequence to watch, certainly earning its place in the Saga's pantheon of classic scenes. It was a fine and exciting finale to Maul - Shadow Lord (one clearly acting as a tribute to a similar, if smaller in number, duel partaken by Vader against Luke and Leia on Mimban during the climax to 1978's Splinter of the Mind's Eye novel - the first Expanded Universe tale), whose opening season I thought started off quite dull, littered with mostly uninteresting supporting characters (who could have been in any bland police procedural drama ) and a thin overall story arc. Thankfully, as ever, Vader knows how to save the day and the streaming ratings! 

I'm sure the majority of fans will completely disagree with my assessment of the show as it so far stands. Nonetheless, as we all await the eventual second season, I hope it will ultimately prove more inventive in further showcasing one of the Prequel saga's greatest villains beyond the small-time criminality prior watched, and more of his fight against his once Sith Master whilst his own so far struggling empire builds further. Will there possibly be a Vader re-match? 

Scene Breakdown: Darth Vader Duels Maul | StarWars.com

One against many, but Vader will always get the upper hand!

Duelling in the forest of doom.

'

To slay a Jedi!

The clash continues!

The grip of evil!

Great character poster art promotion for the season finale.

COMING SOON: 'MAUL' GETS NASTY!

The fans' second favourite George Lucas created iconic villain, Darth Maul, returns to his animated series home this April 6th, 2026, exclusively on Disney+. And here's the latest trailer to enjoy from Filoni and company's fine team...

THE MAUL LEGACY!

That infamous former Sith bad boy is back in his own eagerly-anticipated animated series, forging his criminal empire across the galaxy and taking on a new Force apprentice (clearly, Dave Filoni is going back to the original concept Lucas had for the Disney sequels, of which Maul was to have been the central villain). Enjoy the new trailer!

COMING SOON: 'STAR WARS: MAUL - SHADOW LORD'

The Clone Wars Animated Series may be gone but its legacy lives on within numerous recent Dave Filoni overseen iterations. And now comes the eagerly anticipated Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord in 2026, as our favourite lethal and vindictive former Sith assassin turned ambitious crime lord, Darth Maul, finally gets his own well deserved showcase, voiced once more by Sam Witwer. The series is expected to lead-in to the history/events of Solo: A Star Wars Story and the villain's eventual demise in Rebels, as well as touching on themes created by the much-missed George Lucas for his sadly never made Episodes VII - IX, which featured the return of the Sith in a big way! 

EPISODE I: THE JEDI SLAYER!

That ominous dark servant of Darth Sidious, now fully out of hiding with the Battle of Naboo, has certainly proved himself as a murderous assassin during his striking battle against the experienced and powerful senior Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn. 

A sinister and effective image as darkness temporarily wins against the light in a pivotal and emotionally-charged moment from EPISODE I.

EPISODE I: DUELLING AN 'EXTINCT' FOE!

On the outskirts of the harsh Tatooine deserts beyond Mos Espa, a chilling lightsaber duel is underway between noble Jedi Knight (and Queen Amidala protectorate) Qui-Gon Jinn and a mystery foe resolutely and impressively skilled in the Jedi arts. From the visual and physical evidence, it looks as if the long thought perished Sith clan, ancient enemies of the Jedi and the light side of the Force, have returned...

Terrific production painting art by Doug Chiang for a memorable duelling scene from EPISODE I.

CLASSIC ART: EPISODE I - THE STORY SO FAR...

Great scene-setting work from UK artist Steve McGary for the Sunday People magazine supplement of April 18th, 1999, who, recognising potentially strong sales, devoted a whole issue to EPISODE I, previewing an eagerly-awaited film and its story/characters that wouldn't be released in the territory until July of that year.

THE CLONE WARS: MASTER OF MALEVOLENCE!

The venomous red lightsaber-wielding former Sith Lord, Darth Maul, seems to have the luck of the Devil. Even being cut in half and sent down a seemingly bottomless pit by venerable young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the early stages of his assassin's career has failed to stop his bloodlust and need for revenge against the Jedi, his former master, and the galaxy itself.

Whether you were a fan of Maul's resurrection in The Clone Wars animated series or not, he's here to stay for the foreseeable future in the Star Wars universe, both onscreen (a reappearance in one of the many upcoming live-action Disney mini-series is most likely) and in the authorised Expanded Universe...

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: ICONS FOR A NEXT GENERATION...

We finish our exhaustive and unrivalled 20th Anniversary coverage of EPISODE I with another great art showcase, this time Hugh Fleming's splendid piece that adorned the complete version of Dark Horse Comics 1999 adaptation of the film. The art is a fitting end in showcasing the story's iconic characters in colourful fashion...

THE CLONE WARS: AHSOKA THE LIBERATOR!

She's been happily reunited with her former Master Anakin Skywalker and friend/fellow Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mandalore during the Outer Rim sieges, now they have full confidence in her as she leads a special Clone Trooper force into battle- during their emergency absence- against the tyrannical former Sith Assassin turned crime lord Darth Maul, in this great teaser image for the upcoming finale wrap up season of The Clone Wars, coming to the all-new Disney+ US cable channel in early 2020.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: TO SLAY A SITH!

Though suddenly aware of the building power of the Force in Obi-Wan, Darth Maul is nonetheless unable to act on the lightning moves made by the young Jedi, now leaping out of the pit to deliver a lightning fast killer blow, courtesy of Qui-Gon's retrieved lightsaber- poetic justice. The Sith falls down the pit, cut in half and supposedly dead...

Great art from the EPISODE I comic adaptation of 1999 by Rodolfo Damaggio and Al Wiliamson.

Darth Maul cut in half, as seen in EPISODE I.

"I wanted something that revealed a little more understanding of what an apprentice is, obviously because that is where it's all going. At one point, when Obi-Wan kills Darth Maul, he just fell in the pit.I looked at it and thought this isn't going to work because, if people liked him enough, they're going to want him back and they're going to assume somehow that he gets out of it. So I had to cut him in half to say that this guy's gone, he's history, He isn't coming back. I'll come up with another apprentice. The whole issue of having apprentices, poor Darth Sidious trying to replenish his apprentice supply, is one of the main plot points."

George Lucas - Empire magazine - 1999

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: OVER THE EDGE!

In another sudden attack move, Darth Maul once more gains the advantage, Force propelling Obi-Wan over the edge and down into a nearby energy well pit. The young Jedi holds on for dear life powerless, his lightsaber now gone.

Soon enough, Maul uses his own weapon to swing energy debris shards down on his opponent in order to break his grip.

Filming the scenes- more sparks would be added to the shot digitally by ILM.

Hold on, Obi-Wan!

Enjoying a break from the perils with Nick Gillard.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: OBI-WAN'S 'TRIALS' BEGIN...

The energy gates open as lightsaber battle begins anew!

The energy gate opens and a ready Obi-Wan speeds in to attack Darth Maul in a superb sequence showcasing the skills of Ewan McGregor and Ray Park in their roles...

Here's a selection of images from that ultra-fast paced lightsaber duel, including a few moves not seen in the final movie, showing the lightsaber blades both untouched (see the physical battering visual evidence they take) and cell animated.

"We got that lightsaber fight so fast, so f++king quick, that in the end they had to overcrank the camera to slow it down so you could see what was going on. There's something incredible about getting a fight to such a fluid pace that you cannot be thinking about what's next - it's beautiful."

Ewan McGregor - Arena magazine - 2005

"My lightsaber flew out of my hands. No one tells you the sabers have about 10 "D" batteries in them. They burn your hands... I tossed the saber in the air and it ended up hitting a technician in the head."

Ewan McGregor - Twist magazine - 1999

"I was used to handling weapons in my martial arts, but it was still hard work because we were rehearsing all day every day for two months before shooting. Even holding the lightsaber and getting into the posture made a big difference."

Ray Park - Cinescape magazine - 1999

"We got through about 300 lightsabers. Eventually, Ewan had to have a thicker one than anybody else."

Nick Gillard - 1999

"(Flashes a big smile.) Let's just say he (McGregor) tried (to beat me in the fights), but that's all he could do was try. (The lightsaber duel) took about three weeks to shoot, from the point where we came through the door right up until the ends. We'd screw up sometimes, almost hit each other. We'd just laugh about it, and make lightsaber noises. We'd stand here, about to fight, and Liam and Ewan would each go, "Dzzh!' (Laughs.) And I'd cock my head and say, 'Oh yeah, Dzzh-dzzh!" I don't think George needed to add on any sound effects, because we did them all. (Smiles.) I still do them now."

Ray Park - Wizard magazine - 1999

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: DEATH OF A JEDI!

Darth Maul delivers a savage, unexpected move that delivers the final death blow to a surprised Qui-Gon Jinn, all of this watched by a powerless to help Obi-Wan Kenobi, cut off from the action by the energy shield gates.

The killing stroke.

A shocked scream of pain from Obi-Wan Kenobi, as first seen in the film's second trailer.

"A very small portion of the generator room was built in England, and from that we created a huge room measuring six hundred feet across, as well as a huge pit- all through CG. The electrical beams were also computer generated. We blended the virtual set with the set built on the soundstage."

Scott Squires - The Making of EPISODE I book - 1999

"When we shot the scene, we didn't know yet how big the beams would end up being, or what colour they would be. Eventually we came up with a purplish colour, which was reflected on the actors and on all the practical parts on the set."

David Tattersall - The Making of EPISODE I book - 1999

Darth Maul stands ready for his next opponent.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: QUI-GON'S LAST STAND!

Cut off from Qui-Gon Jinn by a series of energy gate screens, Obi-Wan can only watch as his Jedi Master and friend fights on with skill, precision and inner strength against Darth Maul. But even Qui-Gon's experience and agility in fighting can be defeated by the raw power and savagery of the Dark Side...

"We developed the look of the energy doors, going from some of the concept art. We then use the Sabre (digital scanning technology) to design the energy doors and work out how they should open and close, the noise pattern, how much they should glow and the kind of energy that should emanate from them."

Pablo Helman - The Making of EPISODE I book - 1999

A series of frames from the early part of Qui-Gon's solo duel with Darth Maul.

Suddenly, Darth Maul starts to gain the upper hand...

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: THE PERILS OF THE ENERGY CHAMBER

Duel in the labyrinth!

The battle continues between Jedi and Sith, of which Darth Maul plays dirty, effectively separating Obi-Wan from Qui-Gon, though the latter fights on with noble strength and resolution...

Darth Maul is ready to strike!

A deleted moment from the duel.

Filming Mau's kicking Obi-Wan

Rehearsing an unused punch by Maul to Obi-Wan.

Maul kicks out at Obi-Wan, as seen in the film.

"They said, 'Do you wanna be in Star Wars?' I said, 'Too fu+king right!'"

Nick Gillard confers with Ray Park between scene filming.

Deleted action scene: STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: EPISODE I AT FIFTEEN: DELETED DUELLING!

Andreas Petrides performs Obi-Wan's fall outdoors at Leavesden Studios.

Falling into a special airbag.

Behind the scenes:
The Fall | Star Wars: The Phantom Menace | StarWars.com

Qui-Gon delivers a powerful blow to Maul in retaliation.

Now it's Ray Park's turn to outdoor fall, taking a hit from Qui-Gon in the finished film.

Filming Obi-Wan's close-up, separated from Qui-Gon at a lower level.

Qui-Gon determinedly fights on against the retreating Sith Lord.

Obi-Wan leaps to catch-up with the distant fighting.