Rory McCann Debuts as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka at Star Wars Celebration

Star Wars Celebration has unveiled the first look at Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll for Season 2 of Ahsoka, following the untimely passing of the original actor, Ray Stevenson. For fans new to the series, McCann is set to bring a fresh interpretation to the character after Stevenson's impactful performance in Season 1.

Although 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 view below.

Ray Stevenson, known for his roles in Thor, RRR, Punisher: War Zone, Rome, and many others, tragically passed away due to a brief illness just three months before the premiere of Ahsoka. Stevenson's portrayal of Baylan was hailed by many as a highlight of the series.

Ahsoka's creator, Dave Filoni, expressed that losing Ray Stevenson was one of the most significant challenges faced during the development of Season 2. Filoni praised Stevenson, describing him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off."

During the panel, Filoni and the team also teased what fans can look forward to 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 the series "initially struggles as it works to bring viewers up to speed with characters and concepts from Dave Filoni’s animated Star Wars shows. However, once the series hits its stride, it blends rich lore, humor, and epic battles to create a classic Star Wars experience while also charting new territory."

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 explanation of the Season 1 finale of Ahsoka.