Star Wars Celebration has unveiled our initial glimpse of Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll for Season 2 of *Ahsoka*. For those unfamiliar with the casting change, McCann is now portraying Baylan following the tragic passing of Ray Stevenson, who originally brought the character to life.
Although we haven't yet seen McCann in action, the *Ahsoka* panel at Star Wars Celebration provided a first-look image that you can view below.
Stevenson, celebrated for his roles in films such as *Thor*, *RRR*, *Punisher: War Zone*, *Rome*, and more, tragically passed away due to a brief illness just three months before *Ahsoka*'s premiere. His portrayal of Baylan was widely regarded as a highlight of the series.
Series creator Dave Filoni expressed that losing Ray posed one of the most significant challenges in developing Season 2, emphasizing that Stevenson was "the most beautiful person on screen and off."
During the panel, Filoni and the production team also shared insights into what fans can anticipate in Season 2. This includes the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, alongside characters such as Admiral Ackbar, Zeb, Chopper, and more.
In our review of the first season of *Ahsoka*, 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 actors and the cosmic plots are given room to shine, *Ahsoka* strikes a wonderful balance of rich lore, humor, and epic battles, evoking the feel of classic Star Wars while also paving the way for something fresh and new."
For more insights, take a look at where *Ahsoka* stands on our ranking of the best Star Wars Disney+ live-action TV shows, and don't miss our detailed explainer on the Season 1 finale of *Ahsoka*.
