"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, who originally portrayed the character. For those unfamiliar, McCann, known for his role as the Hound in Game of Thrones, now takes on this pivotal character.

While we're yet to see McCann in action, the Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration provided a tantalizing first-look image, which you can view below.

Stevenson, celebrated for his roles in films like Thor, RRR, Punisher: War Zone, and the series Rome, unfortunately passed away from 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 Stevenson's loss was a profound challenge during the development of Season 2, describing him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off."

Filoni and the team also shared insights into what fans can anticipate in the upcoming season, revealing that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker, joined by beloved characters such as Admiral Ackbar, Zeb, Chopper, and more.

In our review of Ahsoka's first season, we noted that it "initially struggles as it introduces characters and concepts from Dave Filoni's animated Star Wars shows to new viewers. However, once the series finds its footing, Ahsoka blends rich lore, humor, and epic battles, capturing the essence of classic Star Wars while charting a fresh course."

For more on Ahsoka, explore where it stands among our rankings of the best Star Wars Disney+ live-action TV shows, and don't miss our detailed breakdown of the Season 1 finale.