Star Wars Celebration has unveiled our first glimpse of Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll for Season 2 of Ahsoka. Following the tragic passing of Ray Stevenson, who originally portrayed Baylan, McCann has taken on the mantle. Although we haven't yet seen McCann in action, the Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration provided a striking first-look image, which you can view below.
Ray Stevenson, known for his roles in Thor, RRR, Punisher: War Zone, Rome, and more, 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 highlight of the series thus far.
Ahsoka's creator, Dave Filoni, acknowledged that losing Ray was one of the most significant challenges in shaping Season 2, especially given that Stevenson was "the most beautiful person on screen and off."
During the panel, Filoni and the team teased some exciting details about what fans can anticipate in Season 2. This includes the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, alongside beloved characters like Admiral Ackbar, Zeb, Chopper, and more.
In our review of Ahsoka's first season, we noted that the series "struggles in its early episodes as it works to bring viewers up to speed on characters and concepts introduced in Dave Filoni’s animated Star Wars shows. However, once the actors and cosmic plots are given room to shine, Ahsoka strikes a wonderful balance of rich lore, humor, and epic battles that echo classic Star Wars while paving the way for something fresh and exciting."
For more insights, check out where Ahsoka stands on our list of the best Star Wars Disney+ live-action TV shows, and delve into our detailed explanation of the Season 1 finale of Ahsoka.
