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 tragic passing of Ray Stevenson. McCann, best known for his portrayal of The Hound in Game of Thrones, now takes on the mantle of Baylan, a character that Stevenson brought to life with such depth and intensity in the first season.

While we await to see McCann's performance, the Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration offered fans a first-look image, which you can see below.

Ray Stevenson, who also starred in films like Thor, RRR, Punisher: War Zone, and the series Rome, passed away unexpectedly from a brief illness just three months before Ahsoka's premiere. His portrayal of Baylan Skoll was widely regarded as a highlight of the series, bringing a profound presence to the screen.

Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni expressed the immense challenge of losing Stevenson, describing him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off." Despite this loss, Filoni and the team are pushing forward with Season 2, teasing more exciting returns including Hayden Christensen reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker, alongside fan-favorite characters like Admiral Ackbar, Zeb, and Chopper.

In our review of Ahsoka's first season, we noted that the show initially struggled to bring new viewers up to speed with the rich tapestry of characters and lore established in Dave Filoni’s animated Star Wars series. However, once the narrative found its footing, Ahsoka blossomed into a captivating blend of classic Star Wars elements with humor, epic battles, and a fresh, forward-looking approach.

For more insights, check out where Ahsoka stands on our list of the best Star Wars Disney+ live-action TV shows, and delve into our detailed explainer of the Season 1 finale of Ahsoka.