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

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, who originally portrayed the character. McCann, known for his compelling performances, is set to fill the shoes of Stevenson, who had captivated audiences with his portrayal of Baylan in the series' first season.

Below is the first-look image of Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll unveiled at the Ahsoka panel during Star Wars Celebration:

Ray Stevenson, celebrated for his roles in Thor, RRR, Punisher: War Zone, Rome, and more, tragically passed away from a brief illness just three months before Ahsoka's premiere. His performance as Baylan Skoll was widely regarded as a standout element of the series.

Dave Filoni, the creator of the Ahsoka series, spoke candidly about the profound impact of losing Ray Stevenson, describing him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off." This loss posed one of the greatest challenges in the development of Season 2.

During the panel, Filoni and the team also teased what fans can anticipate in the upcoming season, confirming the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, along with other beloved characters such as Admiral Ackbar, Zeb, and Chopper.

In our review of Ahsoka's debut 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 its cosmic plots are allowed to flourish, Ahsoka strikes a perfect balance of rich lore, humor, and epic battles, evoking the essence of classic Star Wars while paving the way for fresh storytelling."

For more insights, explore where Ahsoka stands on 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.