The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 was packed with exciting updates and teases for Season 2, including a first look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll, stories from the making of the series, and much more. To make sure you catch every detail, we've compiled it all here for you.
Although we haven't seen any footage from Season 2 of Ahsoka or received a release date, we did get some insights into what fans can look forward to in the upcoming episodes. Let's dive right in.
First Look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka Revealed at Star Wars Celebration
The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration gave fans their first glimpse of Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Season 2. For those who may not know, McCann steps into the role following the passing of Ray Stevenson.
Stevenson passed away just three months before the premiere of Ahsoka, and his portrayal of Baylan was a standout for many fans. Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni spoke about the challenge of moving forward without Ray, describing him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off." Despite the difficulty, Filoni expressed confidence that Ray would approve of the direction they've chosen.
Filoni sees Baylan as Ahsoka's counterpart in every way and appreciates having a "blueprint for what this character should be" thanks to Ray's iconic performance. He also expressed gratitude for meeting and casting McCann, noting that his "whole focus was not letting Ray down."
Hayden Christensen Is Officially Returning as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka Season 2
Following his significant role in the first season of Ahsoka, it was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2. While details about Anakin's role in the new episodes remain sparse, Christensen attended the panel to discuss his return.
"It was a dream to get to do," Christensen said. "The way they conceived how to do it was brilliant in getting to explore the World Between Worlds. I thought it was all really exciting."
This was a significant moment for Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni as well, who jokingly mentioned he had to "invent entire dimensions" to work with Christensen again. Christensen enjoyed bringing to life a version of Anakin from the Clone Wars that he hadn't portrayed before.
"All of this had been presented well in the animated world, but I was really excited to do that in live action," Christensen said. "As much as I love the traditional Jedi robes I wore during the prequels, it was exciting to get to see Anakin with a new look."
Ahsoka Will See the Return of Many More Familiar Faces
While the Ahsoka panel didn't feature a traditional trailer, it did offer glimpses into what Season 2 will hold and confirmed the return of characters like Sabine, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper. The trailer, which consisted of still images, also teased the involvement of Admiral Ackbar, who will have a significant role and face off against Grand Admiral Thrawn. Additionally, fans can expect to see adorable Loth-Kittens and, according to Filoni, "X-Wings, A-Wings, and Wings I can't tell you about."
Although the exact return date for Ahsoka on Disney+ remains undisclosed, it was mentioned that the team is currently rewriting episodes ahead of production starting next week.
Behind-the-Scenes Stories Reveal More About Ahsoka
In addition to the Season 2 announcements, the panel offered insights into the inspirations and making of Ahsoka. Dave Filoni shared that he draws significant inspiration from Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki, with his favorite film, Princess Mononoke, influencing Ahsoka's distinctive wolf fangs.
Filoni, joined by Jon Favreau and Rosario Dawson, discussed how the Ahsoka series came to life. The idea emerged after Season 1 of The Mandalorian when Filoni and Favreau considered what to develop next. Given Filoni's deep connection to Ahsoka Tano, whom he co-created with George Lucas, they decided to explore bringing her into live-action.
Rosario Dawson was chosen to portray Ahsoka after Ashley Eckstein's acclaimed performance in the animated series. Dawson shared her excitement upon learning she would play the character, particularly after a strong online campaign supporting her for the role. Initially, the team viewed Ahsoka's appearance in The Mandalorian as a one-off, unsure if they could sustain a long-term series.
"Even if this never happens again, I’m so grateful," Dawson said. "It was just so magnificent on so many levels. To see the fan reaction that allowed this story to continue was a dream come true."
Despite initial doubts, Ahsoka's journey continued beyond that single episode. As Favreau explained, "When we started to move into the Ahsoka episodes with revisited characters like Bo-Katan, everything shifted toward a continuation of what Dave and George had done with animation while culminating storylines that had already been established."
For the team, Ahsoka's narrative is akin to watching A New Hope, as it starts mid-journey with much history before and after. Rosario Dawson is thrilled to further explore and expand Ahsoka's story.
"I did not know where this character was going in live action," Dawson said. "I could understand her fear, anxiety, and stress and desire to help from afar. She wasn't willing to take over the mentor role herself, so it became a wonderful thing that I got to explore."
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