Star Wars Celebration has treated fans to our first glimpse of Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll for Season 2 of Ahsoka. This follows the untimely passing of Ray Stevenson, who originally portrayed the character. While we haven't seen McCann in action yet, the Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration offered a first-look image that you can view below.
Ray Stevenson, celebrated for his roles in Thor, RRR, Punisher: War Zone, Rome, and more, tragically passed away due to 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.
Series creator Dave Filoni expressed that losing Ray was one of the most significant challenges faced during the development of Season 2, highlighting Stevenson's exceptional presence both on and off the screen.
At the panel, Filoni and the team also teased what fans can anticipate in Season 2, 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 it "faces some initial challenges as it strives to bring viewers up to speed with characters and concepts from Dave Filoni's animated Star Wars series. However, once the series finds its footing, allowing the actors and grand narratives to flourish, Ahsoka delivers a captivating blend of deep lore, humor, and epic battles, resonating with the essence of classic Star Wars while paving the way for innovative storytelling."
For more insights, explore where Ahsoka stands in our ranking of the best Star Wars Disney+ live-action TV shows, and delve into our detailed analysis of the Season 1 finale of Ahsoka.