Darth Maul (Duel of the Fates — Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019)
The Black Series Darth Maul (Duel of the Fates) — Star Wars Celebration Chicago April 2019. $28. Phantom Menace 20th anniversary. Rework of 2013 Maul with both heads updated to photo-real face printing — looks amazing. Packaging homages original 1999 Episode I toy line. 4 accessories: binoculars, extra head with permanent cloak, double-blade lightsaber (splits in two, both blades removable, rubbery hilts, one belt peg).
Overview
Darth Maul (Duel of the Fates) was released on April 11th 2019 as a Star Wars Celebration Chicago exclusive at $28 — the 20th anniversary of The Phantom Menace, celebrated with both the figure and the packaging. The packaging directly homages the original 1999 Episode I toy line visual language, making the box itself a part of the anniversary tribute. This is a rework of the 2013 Black Series Darth Maul (id=2068) with one significant upgrade: both heads have been updated with photo-real face printing technology. The result is described as amazing. 16 joints — the lower joint count reflects this being an older tooling base.
Photo-Real on Both Heads
The cloaked head and the uncloaked head both have the photo-real treatment applied. The uncloaked Maul face — red and black Dathomirian tattoos, yellow Sith eyes — looks great with the updated technology. The cloaked head has the plastic cloak permanently attached to it. Swapping heads is easy: pop one off the neck peg, press the other on. The photo-real update to the 2013 sculpt is the primary reason to choose this version over the original.
The Lightsaber and Accessories
Double-bladed lightsaber — splits into two individual single-bladed sabers at the centre. Both blades are removable from their hilts. One hilt has a peg that plugs into a hole on the belt for storage. The hilts are made of rubbery plastic that bends easily — this is a deliberate choice to make it easier to place the sabers in Maul’s hands rather than fighting with a rigid hilt.
Binoculars — fit well in the hands but Maul can’t quite raise them all the way to his eyes.
The Phantom Menace Anniversary Context
The Phantom Menace was released in May 1999. Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019 marked the 20th anniversary, and Hasbro’s packaging design directly referenced the visual identity of the 1999 Episode I toy line that coincided with the film. For collectors who were buying the 1999 figures, there’s a resonance to holding a 2019 anniversary figure in packaging that recalls that aesthetic.
Secondary Market
Star Wars Celebration Chicago, April 2019. Four accessories: binoculars, extra cloaked head, double-bladed lightsaber (two halves), two removable blades. Confirm both blades are present and the lightsaber separates cleanly at the join.
Verdict
Darth Maul (Duel of the Fates) justifies its existence through the photo-real update alone — both heads improved significantly from the 2013 tooling. The 20th anniversary packaging, rubbery hilt engineering, and belt-peg hilt storage make this the definitive Phantom Menace Maul in the Black Series programme.
Part of Star Wars The Black Series | Phase 3 Red Line. Related: Obi-Wan Kenobi Duel of the Fates P3-EX-SWC19-OWK | Obi-Wan Kenobi SDCC 2016 P3-EX-SDCC16-OWK.