Disney XD and Lucasfilm have released the official trailer for the "Star Wars Rebels" Season 3 midseason premiere and it showcases several key plot points that will unfold in the show. One of the main highlights, however, is the revelation that Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul will finally get a rematch.
The two characters first fought in "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace." At the time, Darth Maul was the apprentice of Emperor Palpatine aka Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid) and Obi-Wan was a Padawan training under the tutelage of Qui Gon Jin (Liam Neeson). Obi-Wan managed to defeat Maul by slicing his body in half.
More than three decades have passed during that time and Obi-Wan has aged while living on Tattooine, the desert planet where he lives as a hermit to protect a young Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Maul has also notably aged, having gained prosthetic legs and new abilities.
This is notably the first time that the elder version of Obi-Wan, originally played by Alec Guiness in the films, has been depicted in an animated series. The "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" show was a prequel series and focused on the younger version of the character, played by Ewan McGregor in the films.
However, because Maul does not make an appearance in any of the live-action films following his defeat in "The Phantom Menace" it is likely he will lose in his rematch against Obi-Wan, /Film reported. This conflict may also become the focus of an "Obi-Wan" spin-off film.
Other clips in the trailer show Kanan training Sabine Wren in using her Mandalorian darksaber, Collider reported. During this sequence Kanan also fights with his mask off and there is a quick shot of Sabine using a green lightsaber instead.
For fans not familiar with the darksaber, it is a dark lightsaber that the Mandalorians stole from the Jedi during the era of the Old Republic. This weapon was used in their fight against the Jedi. It was taken by Darth Maul during "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" but Sabine managed to retrieve it and restore her family's legacy.
Mon Mothma, a key member of the Rebel Alliance, is also shown in the trailer and it will be the character's debut on the show. She was portrayed by Genevieve O'Reilly in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" and by Caroline Blakiston in "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi."
"Star Wars Rebels" Season 3 midseason premiere airs on Jan. 7. The trailer can be viewed below: