Star Wars Celebration has unveiled our first glimpse of Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll for Season 2 of Ahsoka. This follows the unfortunate passing of Ray Stevenson, who originally portrayed the character. While we're yet to see McCann in action, the Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration provided a first-look image, which you can view below.
Ray Stevenson, known for his roles in Thor, RRR, Punisher: War Zone, Rome, and more, tragically passed away from a brief illness just three months before Ahsoka's premiere. Many fans and critics alike felt that Stevenson's performance as Baylan was a standout in the series.
Ahsoka's creator, Dave Filoni, expressed that losing Ray was one of the most significant challenges faced during the development of Season 2, emphasizing Stevenson's remarkable presence both on and off the screen. Filoni and the team also teased what fans can anticipate in the upcoming season, including the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, alongside characters like Admiral Ackbar, Zeb, Chopper, and more.
In our review of Ahsoka's first season, we noted that the series initially struggled to bring viewers up to speed with characters and concepts from Dave Filoni's animated Star Wars shows. However, once the narrative found its footing, Ahsoka delivered a compelling blend of rich lore, humor, and epic battles, evoking the essence of classic Star Wars while paving the way for fresh storytelling.
For more insights, explore where Ahsoka stands on our list of the best Star Wars Disney+ live-action TV shows, and delve into our detailed explainer of the Season 1 finale of Ahsoka.
