30 Greatest Star Wars Characters

16. Darth Maul

Frustratingly, Darth Maul is yet another Prequel Trilogy character who was utterly wasted while on camera, only getting the attention he warranted in Expanded Universe stories released after The Phantom Menace.

The first Star Wars prequel was a lot of things, but it didn't disappoint in the lightsaber department. Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon and Maul completely galvanised the way audiences considered lightsaber duelling and though there is a lot more to the villain than his proficiency with a lightsaber, Maul's double-bladed weapon is among the most iconic in the franchise, and perhaps the most inventive lightsaber created.

However, what many fans may not realise is that the character's story didn't end after Obi-Wan sliced him in half. He survived, and went on to foster a massive rivalry with Kenobi in the Clone Wars cartoon, which he probably should've done in the films themselves.

In the ensuing years, Obi-Wan and Maul would engage in one of the most devastating battles in Star Wars history, resulting in the death of Kenobi's loved-one, the Duchess Satine, before finally concluding in his death with one final duel on Tatooine. It was an amazing end for a brilliant character, and one well worth investing in outside of the films.