Lucasfilm VP on Underworld Tales and Maul: 'An Upgrade in Animation'

If the buzz from Star Wars Celebration Japan is anything to go by, fans are in for a treat with upcoming animated Star Wars projects. Athena Portillo, Vice President of Animation at Lucasfilm, shared exciting details in an exclusive interview with IGN about two highly anticipated 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 numerous Star Wars animated endeavors, for Maul: Shadow Lord. "Sam was deeply involved in developing the character's depth and lore alongside our head writer and supervising director," she told IGN at Star Wars Celebration Japan. "He's been integral in shaping Maul's character, working closely with Lucasfilm CCO Dave Filoni, who co-created Maul in animation. Sam reviews scripts, watches work-in-progress reels, and provides valuable input on every aspect of production."

While Darth Maul is no stranger to Star Wars fans, Maul: Shadow Lord promises a deeper exploration of this iconic villain. Portillo humorously likened Maul to horror icons Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, noting, "Like you keep killing them, but they keep coming back. There is that constant threat. I mean, it's Star Wars, right? So Darth Maul has died so many times, yet he keeps returning. We are diving into Maul’s history, jumping into his story in a new way."

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Portillo highlighted significant enhancements in Lucasfilm Animation's production techniques, emphasizing improvements in "the animation, the lighting, the effects, the matte paintings, the lighting concepts, and the assets." She shared how Dave Filoni, post-Covid, encouraged the team to step out of their comfort zones. "He said, 'You all need to pull yourself out of complacency, out of your comfort level. Being uncomfortable is a good feeling, and it leads to greater achievements. So, create something that surpasses what we're used to doing,'" Portillo recounted. This resulted in upgrades to animation styles, body mechanics, facial animations, and all aspects of 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 further emphasized the advancements, stating, "All of it is an upgrade from what we've done, and even from The Bad Batch, even from Tales of the Underworld, it's an upgrade, and we just completed Tales of the Underworld. We're releasing Maul in 2026, but we're still working on it."

Tales of the Underworld will explore the journeys of Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane, each with three episodes, totaling six. Ventress's storyline will delve into her resurrection by Mother Talzin and her subsequent encounters with a boy, leading to a narrative about two Jedi on the run and a developing relationship. Portillo confirmed that this series continues from the storyline in the Dark Disciple novel, focusing on Ventress's connection with Quinlan Vos. "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 said. "I think fans want to see that, 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."

Portillo also touched on Ventress's internal struggle with her past, suggesting a journey of self-discovery and redemption. "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, 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," she explained. "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 series promise to enrich the Star Wars universe with compelling narratives and upgraded 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.