The Akkadese Maelstrom, often shortened to just the Maelstrom, was a collection of material located within the Kessel sector. This collection included interstellar gas, carbonbergs, fragments of ice, and other substantial pieces of space junk that encircled the planet Kessel. The Maw Cluster was also located inside the Maelstrom, along with enormous beings referred to as summa-verminoth. The Kessel Run, a pre-defined course through the Maelstrom, was situated near the planet Oba Diah, which served as the headquarters for the Pyke Syndicate.
Jon Kasdan, the screenwriter for Solo: A Star Wars Story, mentioned that the Akkadese Maelstrom's concept was present from the very beginning of the film's script development. According to Kasdan, the filmmakers sought a Jules Verne-esque feel and were captivated by the notion of a cosmic storm. Industrial Light & Magic conducted experiments by detonating containers filled with various colored powders, capturing the resulting explosions in slow motion.