Darth Maul's possible return in Obi-Wan Kenobi has been a topic of discussion, but will he appear on the show? The Disney+ limited series will see Ewan McGregor return as the beloved franchise icon Obi-Wan Kenobi alongside Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. This has led to many theories about who else will return, Darth Maul being among them. While it's unlikely he'll make an appearance in the main storyline, there are other ways in which he could appear.

Throughout the Star Wars franchise, Darth Maul has been one of Obi-Wan Kenobi's greatest enemies. This rivalry became especially pronounced for the former Sith lord following his survival from being cut in half. Notably, Maul has done significant damage to Obi-Wan through his murders of Star Wars' Qui-Gon Jinn and Satine Kryze — Obi-Wan's master and lover, respectively. As a result of this feud, it would make sense for him to make an appearance in Obi-Wan Kenobi.

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Unfortunately for fans of the character, it's unlikely that Darth Maul will feature in Obi-Wan Kenobi's main storyline. For one thing, the two figures do not cross paths again until the events of Star Wars Rebels, where they have one last duel to the death. Secondly, Maul will be too busy leading Crimson Dawn, which is evident in Solo: A Star Wars Story. It's also been previously reported that creative changes made to the Obi-Wan Kenobi series have led to the Sith lord being cut from the show. All this being said, however, Maul could still make an appearance in the series through other methods such as flashbacks and visions.

Obi-Wan vs. Maul in Rebels

Given Maul's importance to Obi-Wan's story, it would be a missed opportunity for him not to appear in some form during the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. This is especially true as the series will feature the Jedi at his lowest point ever. To that end, it would be fitting for Obi-Wan to experience visions of Maul tormenting him over his failures. It's also possible for the show to use archival footage and live-action recreation to flashback to the deaths of Qui-Gon and Satine. This could serve to deepen the effect Maul has had on him and make their eventual reunion duel more impactful.

It seems Darth Maul will not feature in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series at all. The fact that he has been cut from the show despite being intended to have a role to play in the series further supports this possibility. Even so, this could be a misdirection by Star Wars producers at Lucasfilm to make a possible cameo from the Sith lord a surprise. Whatever the case, Darth Maul's influence will likely be felt in Obi-Wan Kenobi, whether he appears in the show or not.

Next: Why Star Wars' Inquisitors Are Not Sith Lords

Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres on Friday, May 27, exclusively on Disney+.

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