Star Wars Celebration has given us our first glimpse of Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll for Season 2 of Ahsoka, following the untimely passing of Ray Stevenson. McCann, known for his captivating performances, is now set to take on the mantle of this pivotal character.
While we haven't seen McCann in action yet, the Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration provided us with an exclusive first-look image, which you can see below.
Ray Stevenson, who previously portrayed Baylan Skoll and was celebrated for his roles in films like Thor, RRR, Punisher: War Zone, and the series Rome, tragically passed away from a brief illness just three months before Ahsoka's premiere. Many fans and critics alike have hailed Stevenson's performance as Baylan as one of the standout elements of the series so far.
Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni openly discussed the profound impact of losing Ray Stevenson, describing it as "one of the biggest challenges in developing Season 2," and praised Stevenson as "the most beautiful person on screen and off."
During the panel, Filoni and the production team also shared insights into what fans can expect in Season 2. Excitingly, Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker, and we'll see the return of beloved characters such as 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 familiarize viewers with characters and concepts from Dave Filoni’s animated Star Wars shows. However, once the narrative and cosmic plots truly unfold, Ahsoka delivers a delightful blend of rich lore, humor, and epic battles, encapsulating the essence of classic Star Wars while paving the way for something fresh and new."
For a deeper dive, be sure to check out where Ahsoka stands on our list of the best Star Wars Disney+ live-action TV shows and our detailed explanation of the Season 1 finale.
