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

Star Wars Celebration offered fans a first glimpse of Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll for Season 2 of *Ahsoka*. For those not yet familiar, McCann will portray the character following the passing of Ray Stevenson, who originally played Baylan in the first season.

Although we haven’t seen McCann in action just yet, the *Ahsoka* panel at Star Wars Celebration unveiled an exclusive first-look image, which you can view below:

Ray Stevenson was a beloved actor known for his roles in franchises such as *Thor*, *RRR*, *Punisher: War Zone*, and the series *Rome*, among others. Tragically, he passed away from a sudden illness three months before the premiere of *Ahsoka*. Many viewers considered Stevenson’s portrayal of Baylan to be one of the standout performances in the show's first season.

In discussing the transition, *Ahsoka* series creator Dave Filoni expressed how deeply felt Stevenson’s absence has been during Season 2 development. He described Ray as “the most beautiful person on screen and off,” making his loss one of the greatest creative challenges for the team moving forward.

Filoni and the production team also shared additional details about what fans can expect in Season 2. Among the reveals was confirmation that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker, joining returning characters such as Admiral Ackbar, Zeb, and Chopper.

Looking back at Season 1, our review noted that while the series initially struggled to bring new viewers up to speed with characters and lore rooted in Dave Filoni’s earlier animated *Star Wars* projects, it eventually found its stride. Once the characters and galactic storylines took center stage, the show delivered a compelling blend of deep mythology, humor, and epic battles—capturing the essence of classic *Star Wars* while charting a fresh narrative course.

For further insights, explore where *Ahsoka* ranks on our list of the best *Star Wars* Disney+ live-action series, and read our detailed breakdown of the Season 1 finale.