Here's How Palpatine Learned Darth Maul Was Still Alive

Darth Maul has had a much more complex and fulfilling story than just his development in The Phantom Menace. Indeed, the series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels have largely developed Darth Maul's storyline over time. Indeed, Darth Maul rises from the ashes and survives his death at the end of The Phantom Menace. But how does Palpatine actually learn that Darth Maul is still alive?

Darth Maul's Journey

Darth Maul makes his first appearance in Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace. Portrayed by Ray Park, he instantly became an iconic character in the George Lucas universe. His design immediately won over fans, and the impressive pirouettes of actor and stuntman Ray Park gave him real depth. Unfortunately, Darth Maul was killed by Obi-Wan at the end of George Lucas's film. After assassinating Qui-Gon Jinn, he was neutralized by Obi-Wan, cut in two, and fell several hundred meters into the reactor of a ship on Naboo.

Except that against all odds, Darth Maul survived. Thanks to his hatred and immense power, Darth Maul managed to build himself mechanical legs on Lotho Minor. After surviving several years in the shadows, he decides to resurface and now calls himself simply Maul. The latter frees himself from the Empire and decides to go it alone. He joins forces with Savage Opress, his brother from Dathomir. Maul and his brother then launch a campaign to seize power. Maul quickly rises in power. He joins forces with factions of criminals like the Pykes, the Hutt, and especially the Death Watch. He creates a crime syndicate called the Shadow Collective, which also includes Black Sun and Crimson Dawn (who we will see again in Solo).

Maul then becomes a threat to both the Jedi and the Sith. With the help of Death Watch, he takes control of Mandalore, kills Pre Vizsla, and in the process becomes the new owner of the Darksaber. He traps Obi-Wan, kills Duchess Satine in front of him, and provokes a civil war on Mandalore. It is at this moment that he attracts the attention of Palpatine. As Maul steadily gains power, Darth Sidious decides to intervene in person. He goes to meet Maul, assassinates Savage, and defeats Maul, but spares him. The latter is imprisoned by the Sith Lord, but manages to escape. He once again takes control of Mandalore, but this time is defeated by Ahsoka. He is then captured by the latter just before Order 66. When Order 66 is promulgated by Palpatine, Ahsoka and Maul unwittingly join forces to survive the clone attacks.

In Rebels, we find the former Sith on Malachor. An abandoned planet where he crosses paths with Ezra Bridger. He tries to manipulate him and train him to the dark side of the Force. In a thrilling double episode, Maul blinds Kanan Jarrus and learns that Obi-Wan is still alive, hiding somewhere on Tatooine. A revelation that obsesses him. He then uses Ezra to track down the former Jedi and finally complete his revenge against him. Except that, unluckily for him, Obi-Wan will kill Maul a second time in a new singular confrontation. And this time, for good.

How does Palpatine learn that Darth Maul is still alive?

To answer this question, we must turn to the comics. In Sith Hunters, several Jedi Knights, including Obi-Wan Kenobi and Plo Koon, are in pursuit of Maul and his brother. At this time, Anakin is very close to Palpatine, and regularly confides in him. It is in this logic that Anakin reveals to his mentor that Obi-Wan is pursuing a Sith, but that it is not Count Dooku. Palpatine then realizes that it is Darth Maul.

A revelation that completely destabilizes Palpatine. Indeed, the latter had not at all anticipated that Darth Maul would survive, which fundamentally changes his grand design. The idea of Darth Maul's resurrection comes from screenwriter Henry Gilroy. He imagined Maul surviving as best he could thanks to hatred on a trash planet. An idea that totally appealed to George Lucas, as Henry Gilroy explained to SlashFilm:

He soaked up the toxic waste, his hatred, he cauterized his wounds. We find him in a garbage compactor. George Lucas liked the idea. He said to me, "Oh, that's good." So I went for it.

We will soon be able to see Darth Maul in his own series Maul: Shadow Lord in 2026 on Disney+.