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

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 the character. McCann, known for his role in Game of Thrones, is now set to bring his unique flair to this pivotal character.

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration offered fans an exclusive first-look image of McCann as Baylan, which you can view below.

Ray Stevenson, who was celebrated for his performances in films like Thor, RRR, Punisher: War Zone, and the series Rome, tragically passed away from a brief illness just three months before the premiere of Ahsoka. Many fans and critics alike have lauded Stevenson's portrayal of Baylan as a standout element of the series.

Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni expressed the profound impact of losing Stevenson, describing him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off," and highlighted the challenges faced in developing Season 2 without him.

Filoni also teased what fans can look forward to in Season 2, confirming the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, alongside beloved characters like Admiral Ackbar, Zeb, Chopper, and more.

In our review of Ahsoka's inaugural season, we noted that the series "faces initial hurdles as it brings viewers up to speed with characters and storylines from Dave Filoni's animated Star Wars shows. However, once the narrative and performances are allowed to flourish, Ahsoka strikes a perfect balance of deep lore, humor, and epic battles, evoking the spirit of classic Star Wars while paving the way for fresh narratives."

For a deeper dive, explore where Ahsoka stands on our list of the best Star Wars Disney+ live-action TV shows, and don't miss our detailed breakdown of the Season 1 finale of Ahsoka.