Despite having only just about 15 minutes of screen time and a handful of lines, Darth Maul became an instantly beloved "Star Wars" character following his appearance in the otherwise maligned "Episode I: The Phantom Menace." He had an undeniably cool character design, a badass presence, and a unique weapon that only heightened the awe of his flashy fighting style.

Though Darth Maul's time may have been limited in the cinematic "Star Wars" universe, a new fan film has given him more room to shine than George Lucas ever did. Entitled "Darth Maul: Apprentice," director/writer/producer Shawn Bu presents the background story of the character we never saw on screen. It follows Maul's final mission from his master before earning the Darth mantle, a mission that sees him battling an entire group of Jedi in as epic a fashion as "Episode I's" Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan duel.

Just as interesting as the fight choreography, incredibly high-quality cinematography and graphics, is how well "Apprentice" does with its minor characters. Much like how Darth Maul became captivating without really doing much, the handful of nameless Jedi in the fan film feel compelling and distinctive after only seconds of action.

Check out "Darth Maul: Apprentice" below (via Comicbook.com).