Ahsoka & Maul's 2027 Returns Point To Something Undeniable About Star Wars

Published Oct 31, 2026, 9:30 PM EDT

Lewis is a Lead Writer for Screen Rant and has written for the site since 2022. This has allowed Lewis to explore a vast array of films, TV shows, books, comic books, and games from across the mainstream world of pop culture, reflecting his lifelong love of all media and typifying his experience in the world of fiction storytelling. To top this off, Lewis graduated from Northumbria University with First Class Honours in Film & TV Studies, truly exemplifying his experience in the medium.

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Star Wars will feature the return of both Ahsoka Tano and Maul in 2027, proving one undeniable fact about the franchise. As for Ahsoka, the character will return in her own show. Ahsoka season 2 is set to be released on Disney+ in January 2027, continuing the story of the titular Jedi beyond the events of Return of the Jedi. This will further expand Ahsoka's already vast timeline in Star Wars, and it will likely go even further after season 2.

On the other side of the spectrum is Maul, Ahsoka's former enemy. Maul's return is set for Maul: Shadow Lord season 2, a spin-off of one of Star Wars' best TV shows, The Clone Wars. Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord season 2 will pick up where season 1 left off, with the former Sith trying to expand his criminal empire after facing off with Darth Vader himself and picking up a new apprentice in the form of Devon, who was once a Jedi.

Given that Maul and Ahsoka are two of the most popular Star Wars characters of the modern era, both shows are highly anticipated. Beyond the return to theaters, Ahsoka and Maul are undoubtedly carrying the Star Wars torch in 2027, which actually points to a fact about the franchise that is impossible to deny.

Ahsoka & Maul's 2027 Returns Are A Reminder That The Clone Wars Is More Than A Side Story

Thanks to Ahsoka and Maul, Star Wars: The Clone Wars has been unequivocally proven as an essential story in the franchise, not just a side project that can be skipped. After all, Ahsoka was first introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, going on to become a central player in that series as well as spin-offs like Star Wars Rebels and, of course, Ahsoka. Although Maul was introduced and seemingly killed in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: The Clone Wars brought him back, resulting in the character becoming as important as Ahsoka.

Maul had major plotlines in all seasons of The Clone Wars after season 3, excluding the shortened season 6 brought about by the show's premature cancelation. After that, Maul appeared in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars Rebels, and Maul - Shadow Lord itself, with the latter continuing a major story in 2027. Evidently, Star Wars: The Clone Wars introduced characters that are essential to the future of the franchise in 2027, with Ahsoka expected to tie back into upcoming cinematic projects. No longer can it be dismissed as a "kids' show" or a dispensable side story in the wider Star Wars galaxy.

Expanding The Clone Wars Has Been Star Wars' Best Bet

Another fact that this all proves about Star Wars is that expanding The Clone Wars is one of the best decisions ever made for the franchise. Several of Star Wars' better and most popular projects would not have been possible if Star Wars: The Clone Wars did not become what it was after seven seasons. Many direct spin-offs or sequels like Maul: Shadow Lord, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Ahsoka, and the various Tales stories were conceived using characters introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Even beyond that, some of the best aspects of Star Wars' live-action shows would not have been possible without The Clone Wars​​​​​​. The Mandalorian featured characters like Ahsoka herself and Bo-Katan Kryze, with its cinematic sequel, The Mandalorian and Grogu, featuring another character who debuted in The Clone Wars, Rotta the Hutt. Rogue One featured Saw Gerrera, whose story has expanded into the best Star Wars TV show, Andor, and who also made his first appearance in The Clone Wars.

Going forward, the characters of Star Wars Rebels will be integral to Ahsoka season 2, neither of which would be possible without The Clone Wars. Beyond a doubt, Star Wars: The Clone Wars becoming as expansive as it did was the best decision Star Wars ever made. The impact the former has had on the franchise is clear for all to see, almost 20 years after it aired on TV for the first time. Even now, going into 2027, Star Wars: The Clone Wars' various characters and plot points are still being paid off in a galaxy far, far away, making it arguably the most essential project in the franchise beyond the episodic films.

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  Tom Kane

  Narrator / Yoda / Medical Droid / Yularen / Kraken (voice)

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  Anakin Skywalker (voice)