Star Wars Finale Nears: Sam Witwer Responds to Fan Demands and Teases Maul's Fate [Exclusive]

Maul - Shadow Lord has been teasing the whole "who will Maul take under his wing?" thing all season. Turns out, according to the guy who voices him, we’re not waiting for that to happen. We’ve been watching it happen.

The setup: Devon Izara is not your standard Padawan

One of the show’s smartest moves has been building a fresh cast around Maul without sidelining him. Enter Devon Izara: a former Jedi Padawan who survived Order 66 and has been on the run with her master, Eeko-Dio Daki. She and Maul keep crashing into each other, and every time they do, she walks away different. Fans spent weeks asking when Maul would finally pick an apprentice. The twist is that he already has a candidate, and he hasn’t exactly asked for permission.

Devon’s not a straight-arrow Jedi. Her very first scene has her snatching fruit from a stand on impulse, which neatly underlines how she’s wired versus Eeko-Dio. He’s rigid, old-school Jedi (sometimes to a fault). She’s scrappier, more adaptable, and not afraid to bend a rule if the moment calls for it. That contrast is the whole engine of her arc.

Sam Witwer: You’re watching the training in real time

Speaking to ComicBook, Sam Witwer said he’s seen the complaints that we haven’t watched Maul train anyone yet. His response is basically: look again.

"And I kind of laughed, because you’re seeing it right now. Started early in the show. He’s training [Devon], whether she likes it or not. We’ll see if she takes to it. We’ll see if she eventually goes, 'No, that’s not happening.' But Maul’s way with Devon is, every time he bumps into her, there’s a new lesson. And does she succeed or fail at that lesson? I love that aspect of it.

But, you wanna know how this guy shapes an apprentice? Well, you’re watching it happen, whether the person gives the okay or not. It’s a very interesting, very dark side, scary way of looking at it, I think."

That framing fits what the show’s been doing: Maul doesn’t sit Devon down for Sith 101. He stress-tests her. He pokes at her rage at the Empire, tries to turn it into something sharp, and leaves her to live with the result. Consent is not part of the syllabus. Very Maul.

Where Devon stands heading into the Season 1 finale

• She has not pledged herself to Maul. She doesn’t trust him, even if they share a common enemy in the Empire.
• Eeko-Dio is still at her side, urging the Jedi way; Devon is more flexible, and the armor has started to crack.
• Maul clearly sees potential. He wants to weaponize her hatred of the Empire to fuel his criminal operation and, bigger picture, take a swing at Darth Sidious.
• As long as Eeko-Dio is alive, Devon resists. If he dies (and Star Wars does love to clip mentors), she becomes a lot more vulnerable to Maul’s pitch.
• Season 2 is already confirmed, so Devon’s arc isn’t stopping at the Season 1 finish line. It would not be shocking if the finale forces her to choose whether to align with Maul going forward.

Why that choice matters (for Devon and the show)

If Devon stays rock-solid Jedi indefinitely, Season 2 risks hitting the same beats: Maul tempts, Devon declines, repeat. Letting her step into the fire as Maul’s apprentice — even temporarily, even strategically — opens up the story. It gives the writers new angles on both characters and creates room for Devon to burn her hand and, maybe, recommit to Eeko-Dio’s teachings with her eyes open. That’s a more interesting road than staying pristine forever.

The read

Devon’s arc has been framed like a shoulder-angel vs shoulder-devil situation from minute one. Witwer spelling out that Maul’s been training her without a formal title is both a neat clarification and a little chilling. With two episodes left in Season 1 and Season 2 already on deck, the show feels due for a real decision from Devon — not just about who she is now, but who she’s willing to be to break the Empire’s grip.