In “Phantom Menace”, Darth Maul descends the reactor shaft on Naboo after his defeat by Obi-Wan, but that was not the end. George Lucas wanted to resurrect Maul, so Dave Filoni oversaw his return during “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” Season 4, Episode 21, “Brothers.” Maul is alive on the planet Lotho Minor and is discovered by his brother Savage Opress (Clancy Brown) writhing on mechanical spider-like legs.
“One of the things I really liked about ‘Phantom Menace’ is that it was cut in half, and I thought that was so smart because it ends the debate, not like boba [Fett] enter the Sarlaac,” Filoni said during the same discussion. “Endless debate, isn’t it? I mean, it’s over, he’s cut in half. And he [Lucas] said, ‘No, he’s coming back.’ And I said, ‘Well, how does it work?’ And he said, ‘I don’t know, you’ll figure it out.
Maul’s resurrection created major complications for Obi-Wan (James Arnold Taylor). Their highly anticipated rematch came as Obi-Wan and Asajj Ventress (Nika Futterman) teamed up against Maul and Opress, but Obi-Wan was forced to retreat. Later, Obi-Wan and Adi Gallia (Angelique Perrin) attempted to defeat the Nightbrothers, but Opress killed Gallia. It wasn’t until “Star Wars: Rebels” that Maul’s thirst for vengeance prevailed. The Jedi ended what started on Naboo, and he eventually killed Maul while watching over Luke Skywalker.