Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace be told in sequels on the chance that it became successful, so "Star Wars" evolved from the first film in the series to the first episode of the saga's second trilogy. Lucas eventually negotiated a contract that allowed him to make two sequels, and over time had created an elaborate backstory to aid his writing process. While writing "The Empire Strikes Back", Lucas considered directions in which to take the story. In the original trilogy, Darth Vader was revealed to have been Anakin Skywalker, a once-powerful Jedi Knight, and a traitor to the Jedi Order. With this backstory in place,
Darth Maul 2017, Marvel released "Star Wars: Darth Maul" a 5-issue prequel series centered on Darth Maul before the events of "The Phantom Menace". Dark Horse Comics produced "" based on the scripts and storyboards of an unproduced 4-episode story arc intended for "The Clone Wars" Season 6. After killing Savage Opress, Darth Sidious takes Maul to a Separatist prison, where Count Dooku tortures him for information about the Shadow Collective. Prime Minister Almec arranges Maul's escape and the latter then heads back to Zanbar to command the Death Watch army. However, he is followed there by General Grievous and his droids,