Gritty New Star Wars Show Slashes Its Disney+ Competition To Become #1 Worldwide

Published Apr 7, 2026, 5:28 PM EDT

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Andor's successor has now arrived with the new animated series Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, which is number one on the Disney+ TV charts worldwide and in the United States one day after its two-episode premiere. It is also number one compared to all shows available on Disney+ and Hulu, and according to FlixPatrol, is the top performer in many countries outside the U.S., including Australia, Finland, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Serbia, and South Korea.

With the former Sith Lord Maul as the protagonist operating in the criminal underworld and delivering violent revenge against his enemies, the series is geared toward an older audience compared to many of the franchise's other animated shows. This is present not only through Maul, and Imperial Inquisitors like the ruthless Marrok (A.J. LoCasio) pursuing him, but through the harsh day-to-day struggles that other characters face. This includes new Order 66 survivors Jedi Padawan Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon) and Jedi Master Eeko-Dio Daki (Dennis Haysbert), as they must decide between sticking to their principles and begging for food or stealing so they don't go hungry.

Star Wars' upgraded animation in Maul - Shadow Lord further cements the darker, grittier feel with an aesthetic that matches the tone and themes. The new, striking, and fitting animation style is consistently cited in reviews as one of the show's many strengths, leading to a 100% score from critics and 94% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing.

Another element likely contributing to Maul - Shadow Lord's immediate streaming success is that it has already been renewed for season 2. Unlike The Acolyte or other streaming series that are canceled after one season and left unresolved on several cliffhangers, viewers can watch with the assurance that the story is going to continue beyond the 10 episodes in season 1. The early announcement also bodes well for there not being a years-long hiatus between seasons or the uncertainty of whether it is meant to be a miniseries or ongoing story, avoiding another common streaming problem.

Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord unleashes its titular character as he slashes through his enemies with his red lightsaber, unleashes chaos in the criminal underworld and against the Empire, and as he tempts Devon to embrace the dark side of the Force and become his apprentice. With Devon conflicted and characters like Master Daki and police detective Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura) still trying to do what is right, the series does not lose sight of the franchise's positive core values, though, even as it wrestles with difficult questions.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord releases new episodes Mondays on Disney+.

Release Date April 6, 2026

Network Disney+

Directors Brad Rau