Star Wars Celebration has provided fans with an exciting first look at Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll for Season 2 of Ahsoka. McCann takes on the character following the untimely passing of Ray Stevenson, who originally portrayed Baylan.
While we haven't yet seen McCann in action, the Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration shared a first-look image that you can see below.
Stevenson, known 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. Many fans and critics alike consider Stevenson's performance as Baylan to be one of the standout elements of the series so far.
Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni spoke about the immense challenge of losing Ray, describing him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off." Filoni and the production team also teased what fans can look forward to in Season 2, confirming the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, along with characters like Admiral Ackbar, Zeb, and Chopper.
In our review of the first season of Ahsoka, we noted that the series "struggles in its early episodes as it works to bring viewers up to speed on characters and concepts introduced in Dave Filoni’s animated Star Wars shows. However, once the actors and cosmic plots are given the time to shine, Ahsoka finds a wonderful mix of rich lore, humor, and big battles that make it feel like classic Star Wars while also forging a path to something new."
For more insights, check out where Ahsoka ranks on our list of the best Star Wars Disney+ live-action TV shows and our detailed explainer of the Season 1 finale of Ahsoka.