Star Wars: Solo movie director Ron Howard reveals why Darth Maul cameoed

He’s not appeared in a Star Wars movie for almost 20 years, but there he was via hologram at the end of Solo.

Darth Maul hasn’t been entirely absent since Episode I: The Phantom Menace mind.

He featured in animated form in The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels TV shows, but his cameo in Solo was a big shock nonetheless.

Now director Ron Howard has revealed why they brought back the renegade Sith Lord when the character was only known as “Boss” in the script.

Speaking with Slash Film, Howard said: “It just sort of said ‘Boss’.

“And I thought when I came in, I assumed they knew who it was and they were just keeping it under wraps.  And they didn’t. But Maul was listed as one of the candidates.  And I lobbied hard for that. 

“I thought that made a lot of sense to me. I found that character to be really effective.

“And I knew for a fact, without asking directly and giving anything away, my son Reed who just turned 31, who’s a dedicated Star Wars fan, he’s a golfer. 

“He’s not in the business. Dedicated Star Wars fan. I just whispered that possibility and he just thought that would be incredibly cool.”

In The Phantom Menace Peter Serafinowicz voiced Darth Maul, but he didn’t return for Solo.

Instead it was Sam Witwer, who plays the renegade Sith Lord in The Clone Wars and Rebels TV series. as well as in Star Wars video games.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is out now.