Star Wars Jedi: Survivor looks to be breaking new ground based on what's been shown of it so far, and it could tie together more loose threads than expected, including bringing back favorite characters like Darth Maul. The potentiality for Darth Maul to appear in the game has made its circles around the rumor mill in recent days, and it could further bridge the gap between his appearances in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Solo: A Star Wars Story.]

If said rumor turns out to be true, it could fit quite nicely with Jedi: Survivor's narrative, setting, and tone. One of the most important gaps in Darth Maul's history begins at the finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, when Maul escapes a crashing Venator aboard a stolen shuttle, headed to parts unknown. Afterwards, Maul goes on to establish himself as the leader of the crime syndicate Crimson Dawn, as seen in Solo: A Star Wars StorySolo is largely set in the year 10 BBY, while Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's BBY year is 9, so Maul would theoretically still be in that position of power. If Maul does indeed play a part in the story of Jedi: Survivor, he could reveal his experiences after The Purge, and he would actually have good reason to do so.

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Darth Maul is often rumored to appear in properties that take place between the Skywalker Saga's original and prequel trilogies, due to the nebulous nature of his whereabouts during that period of time. One of the recent rumors, though, had both credibility and tempered expectations. While reacting to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's teaser trailer on The XboxEra Podcast, insider Nick Baker stated that he'd been told that the game could feature Maul, though at that point the information was a year old. Baker has a history of providing accurate information, but the leak already being so old means that even if it was true when he heard it, it could have been scrapped in the development process. Even so, the theory remains plausible, and could lead to Jedi: Survivor answering some lingering questions about the wayward Sith.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Could Show Maul's Founding Of Crimson Dawn

Before the Purge, Maul already held his position as leader of the Crimson Dawn as the Clone Wars neared their end. He conquered several criminal organizations in his pursuit of ruling Mandalore, which he did for a time. Eventually, he was captured by Darth Sidious, escaping in the Son of Dathomir comics and returning to Mandalore, by which point his Shadow Collective had absorbed the Crimson Dawn. The final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars even includes a cameo from Solo's Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany), showing that much of Maul's infrastructure was already in place before the fall of the Jedi Order. As for where Darth Maul is during Jedi: Fallen Order, he is likely to have been in the process of building up Crimson Dawn, setting him up to be a big player in future stories.

Little is currently known about the story of Jedi: Survivor, but its setting in the timeline and the scope of its predecessor make it an ideal place to expand upon important touchstones such as Maul's rise and fall. The Crimson Dawn's history has also been sparsely detailed during this time period, but Maul states in the Crimson Reign comic series that he intends to use his resources to oppose the Empire, which would align his interests with Cal's, if only temporarily. After Fallen Order, Cal could visit many planets in search of ways to push back against the Empire, on which he could easily cross paths with Maul or his agents.

Darth Maul Is A Perfect Fit For Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's Story

While Maul hasn't been shown yet in promotional material, he could play even a relatively small part in the game while still having a major impact. Since Maul's primary goals are to seek vengeance against Kenobi and the Sith, it would be simple to weave his story into the new exploits of Cal Kestis by having Maul searching for some source of information or power. In addition to their goals aligning, Maul could also serve as a powerful parallel and foil to Cal. Both men are survivors of the Purge and hunted by the Empire, and presenting Cal with another enemy of the Empire that employs underhanded methods could be a great source of internal conflict.

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Cal aside, Fallen Order's Nightsister Merrin would also have a deep connection to Maul. Both hail from Dathomir, and Maul fought against General Grievous during his conquest of the planet, though he eventually had to flee. Merrin mentioned Grievous during Jedi: Fallen Order, referring to him as an armored warrior wielding lightsabers that brought the doom of her people, an invasion which was depicted in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Maul and Merrin's shared history and trauma as two of the last known survivors of Dathomir would make him a perfect character to introduce, as a source of both relation and tension. The trio of Cal, Merrin, and Maul would have such an interesting dynamic that not featuring Maul would be a missed opportunity.

In addition to the potentiality of his character interactions, Maul's pursuits as a crime lord and renegade Sith would fit perfectly with Jedi: Survivor's darker tone and new gameplay elements. The game's director claimed that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's tone will be darker than Fallen Order's, which would lend itself to an inclusion of Maul and the Crimson Dawn. Recently revealed action figures of Cal Kestis show him sporting a more rugged look, including a beard and a holstered blaster pistol. As Cal's life on the run has extended five more years after The Purge, he may have come into contact with even darker elements of the galaxy, such as Maul's criminal operations.

Though it may not be likely, Maul appearing in Jedi: Survivor could enhance not only his story, but the stories of the Jedi series' characters as well. Exploring Maul's time after The Purge and strengthening of Crimson Dawn would serve to answer many fans' burning questions and give a beloved character more time in the spotlight. Based on the game's teaser trailer, Cal may be too busy discovering mysterious figures in bacta tanks and facing off with new Imperial threats to encounter Maul, but even a small scene could carry a lot of weight with the characters. In any case, if these Maul rumors turn out to be true, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor may be an even more important piece of Star Wars canon than its predecessor.

Next: How Star Wars' Cal Kestis Differs From Other Jedi Survivors

Source: XboxEra Podcast