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 role as The Hound in Game of Thrones, now takes on the mantle of Baylan, a character that Stevenson brought to life with profound impact in the series' debut season.

During the Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration, attendees were treated to a first-look image of McCann as Baylan, which you can see below.

Ray Stevenson, celebrated for his roles in Thor, RRR, Punisher: War Zone, Rome, and numerous other projects, sadly passed away due to a brief illness just three months before Ahsoka's premiere. His performance as Baylan was widely regarded as a standout feature of the series.

Ahsoka's creator, Dave Filoni, expressed the immense challenge of moving forward with Season 2 after losing Stevenson, describing him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off." Filoni and the production team also shared insights into what fans can anticipate in the upcoming season, including the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, alongside characters like Admiral Ackbar, Zeb, and Chopper.

Our review of Ahsoka's inaugural season noted that it "initially struggles as it introduces characters and concepts from Dave Filoni's animated Star Wars shows. However, once the series finds its footing, it blends rich lore, humor, and epic battles, delivering a classic Star Wars experience while paving the way for fresh narratives."

For further exploration, take a look at where Ahsoka stands in our rankings of the best Star Wars Disney+ live-action TV shows, and dive into our detailed breakdown of the Season 1 finale of Ahsoka.