A new shift is underway in the Star Wars galaxy as one actress departs and another steps into a major legacy role.
When Ahsoka launched on Disney+ in August 2023, it entered the streaming landscape as more than a character revival. Dave Filoni’s series tied together a constellation of Star Wars stories across eras, functioning as the connective tissue between The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and the post–Return of the Jedi timeline of 9 ABY. Filoni, Jon Favreau, and Kathleen Kennedy executive-produced the show, which directly links to The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Skeleton Crew.
Rosario Dawson leads the cast as Ahsoka Tano on a rescue mission for Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi) amid mounting concerns over Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return, with Lars Mikkelsen reprising his animated role. The ensemble also features Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbeth, and the late Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll.
Season 1 closed with Ahsoka and Sabine stranded on Peridea as Ezra made it back to the New Republic. Once Season 2 and The Mandalorian and Grogu film were announced for May 2026, speculation around long-term plans began to intensify.
One recent report offered insight into Filoni’s strategy. “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.” It continued, “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.”
One of the season’s most impactful performances came from Ray Stevenson, who passed away at 58 after filming wrapped. THR reported, “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.” The casting was revealed at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo and aligns with the show’s ongoing transition of animated characters into live-action.
However, another cast change has emerged. Claudia Black, who portrayed Klothow—the Nightsister Grand Mother—confirmed she will not return. Her exit stems from a contract dispute with Disney. Production has shifted to London, creating logistical issues. Black told Bleeding Cool that financial terms ultimately couldn’t accommodate her personal situation.
“They picked up season two,” Black said, “picked me up with it, and then Disney, which is structuring things differently these days, could not pay me what I needed to be paid as a single mother to keep all my responsibilities going at home in Los Angeles, because they were filming in London.”
Black’s character played a key part in aiding Thrawn’s efforts on Peridea alongside Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto). She expressed appreciation for her experience on set and spoke about the technological innovation of The Volume. She also recalled her son figuring out her role from bits of information despite NDA limitations.
“He was like, ‘Are you talking about the Nightsisters? What’s the show?’ He heard one little thing, and he was like, ‘I know exactly who she’s talking about,’ so it was fun to go into and do something relatable with him. But, very sad to not be able to continue that at the end of the day.”
Klothow will likely be recast for Season 2. A replacement has not yet been named. The show is slated to return on Disney+ in 2026.
Rosario Dawson shared where Ahsoka’s journey is headed next, describing a shift in her emotional presence after her encounter with Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). At Comic-Con Scotland, she said her performance will reflect this transition.
“She had a [stronger] gravitas at the beginning, and she was a little bit more unflappable,” Dawson said. “And I’m liking that she’s relaxing, she’s kind of getting back into her joy.”
She continued, “I think those moments with Hayden Christensen and Anakin were so important for her to heal something, so she could be more present. And that’s what I’m really enjoying. I think we get to explore that a lot more in the second season.” Dawson noted this development extends to teamwork as well: “I’m really glad that we get to add more joy into her life and see her relax a little bit more and work in community a little bit more than she has.”
Ahsoka’s next chapter could mark a meaningful evolution for a character who has often walked her path alone.
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