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Darth Maul: Apprentice (2016) movie poster

Timeline

Darth Maul: Apprentice (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 18 mins · English
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Directed by
Shawn Bu
Starring
Mathis Landwehr, Svenja Jung, Eskindir Tesfay, Hua Lee, Paul Cless, Ben Schamma

Become a Dark Lord of the Sith. With his training almost complete, Darth Maul must face six Jedi in order to reach his true potential, and become a Dark Lord of the Sith.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Darth Maul: Apprentice Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Darth Maul: Apprentice (2016) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Maul begins clandestine training

    On an unknown planet, Darth Maul intensifies his Sith training in isolation, studying his opponents to master his abilities under Darth Sidious. He trains to keep hidden from any observers while pursuing a flawless path to power. The secrecy underscores that his work is meant to be finished away from prying eyes.

    Where
    Unknown planet
  2. Drone detects incoming ship

    A drone stationed in orbit around the planet reports an approaching spaceship, breaking Maul's quiet training. The alert signals that the Jedi may uncover his hidden presence. Maul quickly pivots his plan to engage the intruders before they reveal his location.

    Where
    Orbit around the planet
  3. Maul moves to eliminate intruders

    To protect his secrecy, Maul departs to kill the intruders before they reveal his hiding place. He moves with lethal efficiency, aiming to eliminate the threat before discovery. The mission is driven by the need to complete his training unseen.

    Where
    Planet surface
  4. Maul kills Jedi scout, drawing attention

    Maul swiftly kills a Jedi scout, and the act draws the attention of the remaining five Jedi. The act announces his presence and triggers the ensuing confrontation. The Jedi rush into combat to confront the intruder on the planet's surface.

    Where
    Unknown planet surface
  5. Jedi confront Maul; most are slain

    Maul fights off the six Jedi, killing five of them and leaving only a Jedi Master and his Padawan standing. The two survivors briefly gain the upper hand, forcing Maul to retreat and recalibrate his attack. The Battle demonstrates Maul's calculated efficiency and the Jedi's determination.

    Where
    Unknown planet surface
  6. Maul retreats; Jedi pursue into canyon

    Maul briefly retreats, leaving the surviving Jedi wary but determined. The chase leads them into a canyon where the next stage of his plan can unfold. He uses the moment to prepare for a trap that will tip the odds in his favor.

    Where
    Canyon
  7. Maul triggers canyon trap

    Followed by the two Jedi, Maul triggers a trap within the canyon. The trap hinders their advance and begins to tilt the battle in his favor. The Jedi respond quickly, but Maul's setup proves difficult to overcome.

    Where
    Canyon
  8. Maul overpowers Padawan, Master slain

    Inside the canyon, Maul overpowers the Padawan and kills the Jedi Master, eliminating the principal resistance. The Padawan is left to confront him alone in the remaining space of the canyon. The violent turn marks a brutal shift in the confrontation.

    Where
    Canyon
  9. Presumed-dead Jedi intervenes; Padawan escapes

    Just as Maul is poised to finish the Padawan, a Jedi believed dead intervenes, providing a distraction that allows the Padawan to flee. The Padawan escapes into the surrounding terrain while Maul gives chase. The sequence resets the pursuit into open ground.

    Where
    Canyon
  10. Maul corners Padawan in a clearing

    Maul closes the distance in the middle of a clearing and resumes the duel. The two clash with renewed ferocity under the open sky. The fight resumes the final phase of Maul's test.

    Where
    Clearing
  11. Maul hesitates, drone reveals watchers

    Maul pins the Padawan to the ground and hesitates to deliver the killing blow. He then notices his master's camera drone circling around him, signaling watchers are present. The revelation influences his decision as he moves to finish the Padawan.

    Where
    Clearing
  12. Maul finishes the Padawan

    With the drone serving as proof of his progress, Maul delivers the final strike and kills the Padawan. The duel ends as he asserts control over the situation. The training is portrayed as completed in dramatic fashion.

    Where
    Clearing
  13. Sidious appears; training complete

    Darth Sidious appears as a hologram to express pleasure with Maul's achievement and declare the training complete. He explains that he led the Jedi to the planet so Maul could slaughter them, signaling the beginning of the end for all Jedi.

    Where
    Unknown planet surface

Last updated: February 17, 2026 at 19:55

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Timeline questions answered

Darth Maul: Apprentice Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Darth Maul: Apprentice (2016): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did the Jedi come to the planet where Maul was hiding?

Darth Sidious deliberately led the Jedi to Maul's location. He engineered the entire situation as a final test: the Jedi would discover Maul, confront him, and Maul had to kill them all to prove he was ready to become a true Sith Lord. Sidious reveals this cruel plan at the end, explaining that the Jedi were lured there specifically so Maul could slaughter them.

Foreshadowing: The drone in orbit detecting the incoming ship was the first sign that the Jedi were being guided to the planet.

  • sidious
  • jedi
  • test
  • trap
  • slaughter
Q2

What was the camera drone recording during Maul's battle?

The drone was Darth Sidious's surveillance tool, circling above to document Maul's performance. It served as proof of Maul's progress and capability. When Maul noticed the drone hovering nearby while he had the Padawan pinned, he understood his master was watching and that his success would be measured by completing the kill.

Foreshadowing: The drone's initial alert about the incoming ship was the event that disrupted Maul's hidden training.

  • drone
  • recording
  • sidious
  • watching
  • proof
Q3

Why did Maul hesitate before killing the Padawan in the clearing?

Maul hesitated when he noticed his master's camera drone circling above him. The drone's presence meant Sidious was watching the duel unfold. Maul needed to prove his worth by finishing the task, so he deliver the killing blow once he confirmed he was being observed and judged.

Foreshadowing: Maul had already killed five Jedi and the Master without hesitation, the drone's appearance is what caused the pause.

  • maul
  • hesitation
  • drone
  • padawan
  • clearing
Q4

Why did the Jedi thought to be dead suddenly reappear?

The Jedi who intervened was not actually dead but had been strategically positioning himself. When Maul was about to deliver the final blow to the Padawan, this Jedi used the opportunity to create a distraction. This allowed the Padawan to escape Maul's grasp and flee into the surrounding terrain, giving Maul one last pursuit to complete his test.

Foreshadowing: After Maul killed five Jedi, only the Master and Padawan were said to survive, the surviving Jedi had been lying in wait.

  • jedi
  • intervene
  • distraction
  • padawan
  • escape
Q5

What did Sidious mean when he said Maul's training was complete?

Sidious declared Maul's training complete because he successfully passed the final test: eliminating all six Jedi who came to the planet. By slaughtering the Jedi, Maul proved he had abandoned compassion and was ready to serve as a weapon of the Sith. The horror of the situation, that the Jedi were lured to their deaths as a training exercise, marks the beginning of Sidious's larger plan to destroy the Jedi Order.

Foreshadowing: Maul's entire training was conducted in secret, away from any observers, preparing him for this single moment of public execution.

  • training
  • complete
  • sidious
  • pass
  • test
  • sith
Q6

How did Maul use the canyon to gain advantage over the Jedi?

Maul deliberately led the surviving Jedi Master and Padawan into a canyon where he had pre-prepared a trap. When they followed him into the narrow space, Maul triggered the trap to hinder their movement and shift the battle in his favor. The confined environment limited the Jedi's ability to maneuver and gave Maul the tactical edge he needed to kill the Master and overpower the Padawan.

Foreshadowing: Maul's brief retreat was a calculated move to draw the Jedi into the trap-filled canyon.

  • canyon
  • trap
  • ambush
  • tactical advantage
  • jedi
Q7

Why did Maul kill the Jedi scout so quickly?

Maul killed the Jedi scout immediately upon detection to protect his hidden location. His training was meant to remain secret until he reached full power. By eliminating the scout before the Jedi could report back or alert others, Maul attempted to maintain the element of surprise. However, this act drew the remaining five Jedi into direct confrontation with him.

Foreshadowing: The drone's alert about the incoming ship set this chain of events in motion, Maul had to act before being discovered.

  • scout
  • kill
  • stealth
  • secrecy
  • discovery
Q8

What does Maul's victory signify for the Jedi Order?

Maul's successful slaughter of six Jedi represents the beginning of the end for the Jedi. Sidious's cold manipulation, luring Jedi to their deaths as a training exercise, demonstrates the Sith's growing power and the Jedi's vulnerability. The film ends on a bleak note: Maul has become a deadly weapon, and the path to the Jedi's destruction has officially begun.

Foreshadowing: The entire mission was orchestrated by Sidious to prepare Maul as a weapon against the Jedi.

  • jedi order
  • fall
  • sith
  • destruction
  • maul
  • syed

Movie threads

More Movies Like Darth Maul: Apprentice, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Darth Maul: Apprentice tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Relentless Trial by Combat Movies like Darth Maul: Apprentice

Stories where a character must prove their worth through ruthless, violent challenges. Explore movies like Darth Maul: Apprentice featuring characters pushed to their absolute limits through a brutal series of trials. If you enjoyed the grim, high-stakes challenges of Maul's Sith training, you'll find similar stories of violent transformation and survival here.

  • brutal
  • ruthless
  • grim
  • relentless
  • trial
  • corruption
  • Tone: dark, grim
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a protagonist undergoing a series of deadly tests, overseen by a master or a system. The focus is on physical endurance, escalating violence, and the protagonist's descent into a more ruthless state. The plot is straightforward and linear, building tension through consecutive life-or-death encounters.

Why they belong together: Movies share a core structure of a violent trial arc, high intensity action, and a grim tone. They explore themes of power, corruption, and the loss of innocence, creating a viewing experience defined by relentless pacing and heavy emotional weight.

Grim Descents into Villainy Movies like Darth Maul: Apprentice

Tales of corruption and the tragic or brutal transformation into an antagonist. Discover movies like Darth Maul: Apprentice that explore the dark transformation of a character into a villain. If you were fascinated by Maul's sinister journey to becoming a Sith Lord, these films feature similar bleak arcs of corruption and embracing darkness.

  • grim
  • dark
  • corruption
  • manipulation
  • ominous
  • transformation
  • Tone: dark, bleak
  • Pacing: steady, fast
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot follows a character's corruption, often guided by a manipulative mentor or driven by personal tragedy. The journey is marked by moral compromises, the shedding of former ideals, and a bleak conclusion where the protagonist's transformation into a force of evil is complete and irreversible.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their focus on a villain's origin story, a dark and heavy tone, and a bleak ending. They provide a compelling, albeit grim, look at the process of corruption, making them thematically and emotionally coherent.

Every angle

Darth Maul: Apprentice (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Darth Maul: Apprentice in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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