A galaxy far, far away is welcoming a new face as a major character in Ahsoka has officially been recast.
Lucasfilm’s Ahsoka debuted on Disney+ on August 22, 2023, continuing the Star Wars saga while weaving threads from The Clone Wars, Rebels, and the post-original trilogy timeline. Created by Dave Filoni, the series aligns with The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Skeleton Crew, diving into the New Republic’s fragile era after the Galactic Civil War around 9 ABY.
Starring Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano—Anakin Skywalker’s former Padawan—the show follows her journey as she hunts for Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi) and confronts the looming threat of Grand Admiral Thrawn, played by Lars Mikkelsen, who reprises his role from Rebels. Alongside Ahsoka, fans saw Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, the late Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll, and Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati. Diana Lee Inosanto also returned as Morgan Elsbeth.
The Season 1 finale left Ahsoka, Sabine, Shin, and Baylan stranded on Peridea while Ezra made a triumphant return to the galaxy to reunite with Hera. With loose ends aplenty, fans eagerly awaited news of a second season, as it was unclear whether Filoni would tie up the story in future projects or his highly anticipated Star Wars feature film, revealed at the 2023 Star Wars Celebration.
However, Lucasfilm surprised fans by announcing Ahsoka Season 2, alongside Jon Favreau’s feature film The Mandalorian and Grogu, set to release in May 2026. Despite being at least two years away, reports suggest Filoni is crafting a definitive conclusion to ensure no unanswered questions—just in case Disney+ doesn’t greenlight more seasons.
“According to [Daniel Richtman], the plan now is to make sure the series has a satisfying ending in case it’s canceled and doesn’t return for a third season,” a late 2024 report shared. “We hadn’t expected Filoni to tell this story beyond a couple of seasons, anyway, but Disney+ could always push for more episodes if Ahsoka is a big enough hit.”
Tragically, Ahsoka faced a significant loss when Ray Stevenson, who portrayed Baylan Skoll, passed away shortly before the show’s release. Stevenson’s unforgettable performance left fans captivated, but his untimely death at 58 raised questions about the character’s future.
Now, Lucasfilm has officially recast the role. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Scottish actor Rory McCann, known as The Hound from HBO’s Game of Thrones, will step in as Baylan Skoll for Ahsoka Season 2.
In the Season 1 finale, Baylan embarked on his own mysterious journey, coming face-to-face with the iconic statues of the Mortis gods on Peridea. This haunting imagery left fans speculating about the character’s destiny—a storyline now set to continue under McCann’s portrayal.
Blending action, mystery, and deeply emotional moments, Ahsoka explored themes of legacy, redemption, and the enduring struggle to define what it means to be a Jedi in a galaxy without the Order. Meanwhile, Grand Admiral Thrawn’s resurgence now threatens to plunge the galaxy back into chaos, raising the stakes for the New Republic.
Ahsoka herself grappled with her past, her relationships, and the shadow of her former master, Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter/Hayden Christensen). The return of Christensen’s Anakin in The World Between Worlds provided some of the series’ most poignant moments, culminating in his spectral appearance on Peridea as the season concluded.
How do you feel about this casting change and Rory McCann stepping into the Star Wars galaxy? Let us know in the comments below!
