The galaxy far, far away is setting its sights on the next chapter in Ahsoka, and this time, all eyes are on Ezra Bridger—and a reimagined future for one of Star Wars’ most promising live-action entries.
When Ahsoka debuted on Disney+ on August 22, 2023, it became more than a continuation of a beloved character’s journey. Under the guidance of series creator Dave Filoni, with executive producers Jon Favreau and Kathleen Kennedy, Ahsoka weaves together the legacy of The Clone Wars, Rebels, and the timeline that follows Return of the Jedi. The show takes place in 9 ABY—lining up with The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Skeleton Crew.
Rosario Dawson leads as Ahsoka Tano, navigating a galaxy still recovering from Imperial collapse. The plot orbits the search for Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi) and the threat posed by the returning Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen, reprising his animated role).
Returning cast members include Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as General Hera Syndulla, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, and the late Ray Stevenson as mercenary Baylan Skoll. Diana Lee Inosanto also reprises her role as Morgan Elsbeth.
Season 1 ended with Ahsoka and Sabine marooned on Peridea, while Ezra made it back to the New Republic. Initially, it was unclear whether the story would continue with a second season, be explored in other shows, or wait for Filoni’s theatrical project, announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023 alongside titles from James Mangold and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
That changed with the confirmation of Ahsoka Season 2, revealed in tandem with The Mandalorian and Grogu, a Jon Favreau-directed feature set for release in May 2026.
Recent updates suggest that Filoni is preparing for the season to serve as a potential endpoint. As noted in late 2024, “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.” The report goes on, “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.”
Offscreen tragedy marked Season 1 with the passing of Ray Stevenson, who brought complexity to Baylan Skoll. The Rome and Thor actor died shortly before his 59th birthday while filming Cassino in Ischia (2024), following multiple hospitalizations due to heart complications. The season was ultimately dedicated to him.
While Dominic Purcell stepped in to finish Stevenson’s work on Cassino in Ischia, Lucasfilm took its time addressing Skoll’s fate. The Hollywood Reporter later confirmed, “Scottish actor Rory McCann, best known for playing the burly brute The Hound on HBO’s Game of Thrones, will replace late actor Ray Stevenson for a second season of Star Wars show Ahsoka, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.” McCann’s portrayal was revealed during this year’s Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan.
McCann’s live-action casting follows a precedent: Ahsoka, Hera, Ezra, and Sabine were all recast when transitioning from animation, with Rosario Dawson, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Eman Esfandi, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo stepping into roles originally voiced by Ashley Eckstein, Vanessa Marshall, Taylor Gray, and Tiya Sircar.
Ezra is back—and looking sharper than ever. A new image, posted by Eman Esfandi and shared via mandoverse_updates on Threads, reveals the Jedi with a clean-shaven look and updated style. The actor captioned the photo as being taken a morning “before shooting.”
This fresh take marks the first official glimpse of Ezra in Season 2, suggesting that following his reunion with Hera, he’ll play a central role in confronting Thrawn and aiding Ahsoka and Sabine, who remain stranded on Peridea—alongside Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno) and Baylan Skoll (Rory McCann).
Ezra Bridger’s story began in Star Wars Rebels as a Force-sensitive orphan on Lothal. What started as a street-level survival tale evolved into a sweeping arc of growth and sacrifice.
Ezra’s bond with the Ghost crew—led by the secretive Jedi Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.)—set him on a path of discovery and rebellion. As his powers matured, he tangled with major figures including Ahsoka Tano and Darth Maul, and carved his place within the early Rebel Alliance.
His defining moment came in the Rebels finale, when he used the purrgil to trap Grand Admiral Thrawn and jump to an unknown galaxy, saving Lothal in the process.
Years later, Ahsoka showed that Ezra survived the leap. Rescued by Sabine Wren, their reunion is cut short as Ezra boards Thrawn’s ship alone to return home, setting the stage for a new conflict in the central galaxy. Now, with Thrawn’s rise and the New Republic in flux, Ezra’s return is more crucial than ever. From Lothal orphan to Jedi warrior, he continues to shape the future of the Star Wars galaxy.
Are you ready to see where Ezra’s story goes next? Let us know in the comments!
