Darth Maul isn't going to appear in Obi-Wan's Disney+ show, which leaves a big question of where is Maul during Obi-Wan Kenobi. The two Star Wars characters have had their stories tied together ever since Obi-Wan cut Maul in half during Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Their longtime rivalry in the franchise could lead many to believe that the Obi-Wan Kenobi series is a great chance to bring them back together. Original plans for Darth Maul to appear in Obi-Wan's show were scrapped, with Lucasfilm even confirming that Ray Park's villain won't appear alongside Ewan McGregor's Jedi.
When it came to creating the Obi-Wan Kenobi show, it was decided by Lucasfilm to place the limited series almost directly between Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. It is confirmed that the series takes place 10 years after Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker fought on Mustafar, resulting in the chosen one getting the iconic Darth Vader armor. The passage of time means Obi-Wan Kenobi is set in 9 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) in the Star Wars timeline, which allows the show to feature McGregor's aged Jedi as more of a recluse on Tatooine, as he watches over a young Luke Skywalker.
With Obi-Wan Kenobi taking place in 9 BBY, where Darth Maul is located is actually quite clear thanks to the expansive Star Wars transmedia canon. The setting for the Disney+ show means it takes place roughly a year after Maul was last seen in live-action when he made a surprise appearance in Solo: A Star Wars Story's ending. His return in Solo showed the former Sith Lord is now running a powerful crime syndicate known as Crimson Dawn. Maul decided to rule Crimson Dawn from the shadows, though, as Qi'ra became the figurehead of the organization during this time following Dryden Vos' death. The precise location of where Maul is during Obi-Wan Kenobi should be Dathomir, his home planet where he trained Qi'ra.
In addition to leading Crimson Dawn in secret, gathering resources to defeat the Empire, and training Qi'ra to fight the Sith, Maul also spends a great deal of time during the events of Obi-Wan Kenobi fueled to get revenge on the Jedi Master. This included searching for an ancient Sith holocron, which leads him to the planet of Malachor. Darth Maul becomes stranded on Malachor sometime after the events of Obi-Wan Kenobi when his ship is wrecked while trying to enter the Sith temple. As detailed in Star Wars Rebels, he does eventually leave Malachor and locate Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Thanks to the information known about Maul's life during Obi-Wan Kenobi, Lucasfilm would have to include a rather big retcon to give him any sizable role in the series. Darth Maul doesn't even learn that Obi-Wan survived Order 66 and the Jedi Purge until 2 BBY, seven years after the Disney+ show takes place. Star Wars Rebels already included the end of their rivalry with Obi-Wan killing Maul on Tatooine. Unless Obi-Wan Kenobi flashes forward to this event, Darth Maul is busy elsewhere during the events of the series.
