In a Reddit AMA over the weekend, Dan Borth of Red Fly Studio talked about their cancelled Darth Maul game for Lucas Arts.
With Disney now owners of the Star Wars franchise and EA developing big new Star Wars games like Battlefront and Amy Hennig’s title on consoles and PC, Borth says they are working to pitch it to EA:
“We are currently working on a full next gen demo of all things Maul to show to the powers that be. It’s been a lot of work on our off time.”
“We have been burning a candle for this game since it was killed in hopes we can get it turned back on again. IF that is to happen we need to approach EA with a demo that will impress them. I think we have that or are close to it. Still it is completely not up to us.”
Since Battlefront doesn’t include the prequel trilogy, Borth was asked if Red Fly might replace Darth Maul with a different Sith character from the original trilogy. He replied, “Hopefully EA will see the value in us re-skinning our combat mechanic to be more in line with what they are thinking for Star Wars if they are not interested in Maul.”
Currently, Red Fly has a “playable but we don’t own the rights nor are we ‘officially’ working on it. Hopefully that can change.” Borth also said, “There is already millions into the game. A crowd funding effort could put more in and then ‘hopefully’ the risk would be lowered enough for them to Green Light it.”
After finishing up The Force Unleashed 2 on Wii in 2010, Red Fly was approached to do the Darth Maul game, which would have seen him going from age 9-11 to right before Episode 1. Wanting him to be vicious and stealthy, the story-driven game could have featured decapitations and a Mature rating, with combat inspired by Batman: Arkham Asylum.
According to Borth, they “really only started to get our footing” in terms of development. As for the cancellation, “We were told multiple things really. After the fact we were told by those that were in the know it was because everything was being shut down for the Disney acquisition.”
All in all, Borth says, “EA will decide if it ever sees the light of day.”
