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 untimely passing of Ray Stevenson, who originally portrayed Baylan, McCann takes on the mantle. Stevenson, celebrated for his roles in Thor, RRR, Punisher: War Zone, Rome, and more, tragically succumbed to a brief illness just three months before Ahsoka's premiere, leaving a significant void. His performance as Baylan was widely regarded as a standout in the series.
During the Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration, attendees were treated to a first-look image of McCann as Baylan, which you can view below.
Ahsoka's creator, Dave Filoni, spoke candidly about the immense challenge of losing Ray Stevenson, describing him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off." Despite this setback, Filoni and his team shared exciting updates about Season 2, confirming the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, along with beloved characters like Admiral Ackbar, Zeb, Chopper, and more.
In our review of Ahsoka's first season, we noted that the series initially faced challenges in engaging viewers unfamiliar with the lore 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, reminiscent of classic Star Wars while also paving the way for new storytelling.
For further insights, explore where Ahsoka stands in our rankings of the best Star Wars live-action TV shows on Disney+, and delve into our detailed analysis of the Season 1 finale of Ahsoka.
