Summary
- Darth Maul's duel with Darth Vader was originally planned for the Star Wars Rebels season 2 finale but was cut for being unwieldy and lacking emotional material.
- A duel between Vader and Maul would have diluted the impact of the main confrontation between Ahsoka and Vader, which was the emotional core of the episode.
- Maul's story in Rebels was made stronger by focusing on his nemesis, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and his role as a source of temptation for Ezra, rather than a flashy fight with Vader.
Darth Maul originally dueled Darth Vader in the Star Wars Rebels season 2 finale, but it was appropriately cut from the final iteration. When Ahsoka Tano, Kanan Jarrus, and Ezra Bridger traveled to the Sith world Malachor, Maul was naturally thrown into the mix. An agent of chaos, the former Sith Lord's true intentions remained ambiguous as he forged an uneasy alliance with the two Jedi and part-timer. After dispatching the Inquisitors with ease, Maul showed his true colors by blinding Kanan, and Vader subsequently arrived to face Ahsoka.
"Twilight of the Apprentice" is an intense experience, filled with action, emotion, and trials for the heroes that a haven of the dark side would promise. Arguably one of the biggest stories in Star Wars, the two-part finale was a turning point for the franchise, seeing the end of the Inquisitorius and showing what would happen if Ahsoka Tano were to fight her former master. Maul's return put Kanan and Ezra on their paths for season 3 and set up his own final arc - though his time in Rebels was initially going to be much more limited.
Vader Originally Killed Maul In Star Wars Rebels
When Vader and Maul were originally going to face each other in "Twilight of the Apprentice," the fight resulted in Maul's death at Vader's hand. In an interview with Gizmodo in 2017, Rebels creator Dave Filoni revealed Maul's alternate fate, but deemed it weightless and distracting to the story.
“Originally Maul perished in the season two finale where he returned. It was a one-off appearance. So originally in that episode you were gonna get Vader fighting Maul, Vader would have killed Maul, and then fought Ahsoka. It just became unwieldy. There were too many storylines, and there isn’t enough emotional material between Vader and Maul. It’s more of a fan fiction fun thought that they fought. The emotional drama was really between Vader and Ahsoka. So we decided to let Maul live.”
Seeing those names together and imagining a story where every heavyweight fights one another easily proves Filoni's decision was correct. Maul has always served as a catalyst in Star Wars, and he has no emotional connection to Vader. At the crux of the episode, Ahsoka and Vader's confrontation is what brings the most value to the story, and a duel with Maul just prior would dilute the impact.
From the stories that have come since "Twilight of the Apprentice," a duel between Vader and Maul at some point has become more feasible. Solo: A Star Wars Story revealed Maul was the head of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate just seven years before Rebels season 2. Something major happened to send Maul into exile on Malachor, and his hatred and fear of Vader suggests a battle between the two could be the culprit. With Maul's plan to kill Anakin Skywalker during the Siege of Mandalore and save the galaxy from Vader, the emotional weight now exists for a duel between Sidious' pawns in a separate story.
Darth Maul's Rebels Story Was Perfect Without A Vader Duel
While a flashy duel between Maul and Vader would've been flashy and exciting, it derailed what became a perfect story for the former in Rebels. From the beginning, Maul's nemesis has been Obi-Wan Kenobi, an obsession he was never able to let go of. Ending their journey where it began on Tatooine was not only appropriate, but a masterclass in storytelling. Both men are well past their prime when the skirmish in the Tatooine desert happens, but Kenobi's growth is highlighted, juxtaposing Maul's inability to evolve.
Maul serves as the perfect source of temptation for Ezra, who's inexperienced enough to allow his emotions to cloud his judgment. Kanan and Obi-Wan's teachings win out in the end, and Ezra is able to see a path forward through the light, whereas Maul's reliance on the dark side keeps him stuck in the past. Reducing Maul's role to a cameo in "Twilight of the Apprentice" takes away the opportunity to tell the more emotional story that Filoni took advantage. Star Wars Rebels juggles the stories of many characters, and the balancing act of using Maul throughout season 3 better served the show than a fight with Vader could.