Lucasfilm VP Calls Tales of the Underworld an Upgrade

If Star Wars Celebration Japan was any preview, we're gearing up for a treasure trove of animated Star Wars content in the coming years. Athena Portillo, Lucasfilm's Vice President of Animation, gave IGN an exclusive look at two highly anticipated series in development: the newly announced Tales of the Underworld and Maul: Shadow Lord.

Portillo visibly lit up when discussing their collaboration with Sam Witwer - the legendary voice behind animated Darth Maul - on Maul: Shadow Lord. "Sam was deeply involved in shaping the character's depth and lore alongside our head writer and supervising director," she shared during our Star Wars Celebration Japan interview. "Having helped create Maul's animated persona with [Dave] Filoni, he contributes at every stage - from script reviews to watching whip reels and providing color feedback."

A Villain Who Refuses to Die

While we've seen Maul before, we've never truly explored the backstory of this persistent antagonist. "I joke with our animation team that he's like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees - you think he's gone, then he comes back stronger," Portillo quipped. "That's the beauty of Star Wars - Maul keeps cheating death, and now we're finally unpacking his origins."

From Side Villain to Beloved Antihero

View 14 Images

Portillo emphasized significant production advancements that elevate their new projects beyond previous work, specifically praising their "revamped animation, lighting effects, matte paintings, and asset creation."

"When Filoni greenlit the Maul series post-pandemic, he challenged us to push beyond our creative comfort zones," she explained. "We overhauled everything - from body mechanics and facial animations to lighting systems. When he reviewed an episode recently, his reaction was, 'This isn't just animation - you're making cinema.' That validation meant everything to our team."

She added, "Both Maul and Tales of the Underworld represent major leaps forward, and while we've wrapped Underworld, we're still polishing Maul for its 2026 debut."

Ventress and Bane's Criminal Odysseys

Tales of the Underworld will deliver six episodes total - three each following Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane navigating their villainous paths. Ventress' arc specifically picks up after Mother Talzin offers her redemption. "Her journey begins when she encounters a young boy in the first short," Portillo teased, "creating an unexpected partnership between two fugitive Jedi that develops across all three episodes."

This directly continues Ventress' controversial resurrection storyline from Dark Disciple, finally confirming its canonical status. "That Quinlan Vos connection really resonated with fans," Portillo reflected. "Jedi love stories - whether Kenobi/Satine, Anakin/Padme, or Vos/Ventress - always strike a chord because they're forbidden."

She revealed Ventress will grapple profoundly with her past: "Some characters choose exile when they question their path. Others embrace the dark side. Ventress' story explores how the right person can change your trajectory."

With Tales of the Underworld landing on Disney+ May 4, 2025 (and Maul's date still pending), Star Wars animation is clearly entering an exciting new golden age.