AHSOKA Season 2 Will See GAME OF THRONES' Rory McCann Replace The Late Ray Stevenson As Baylan Skoll

Ray Stevenson sadly passed away in 2023 shortly after filming his scenes for Ahsoka, but his character, Baylan Skoll, will live on, with Game of Thrones alum Rory McCann set to take over for season 2...

News

By MarkCassidy - Jan 10, 2025 07:01 AM EST

Filed Under: Star Wars

Source: Via SFF Gazette

Star Wars fans had wondered if we might see Baylan Skoll in the galaxy far, far away again despite actor Ray Stevenson's passing, and we now have confirmation that the character will return for the upcoming second season of Ahsoka.

First reported by Jeff Sneider and later confirmed by THR, Scottish actor Rory McCann, best known for playing The Hound on HBO’s Game of Thrones, is set to take over as Skoll in season 2 of the Disney+ Star Wars series.

Stevenson, who sadly died back in May of 2023 just before his 58th birthday, played the villainous(?) former Jedi in the series, and the finale featured his last scene as the character, as we see the powerful Force-wielder standing on the ruins of a mountain-sized sculpture of the Mortis gods.

Skoll didn't have a big part to play in the events of the concluding episode, but Stevenson would undoubtedly have reprised the role at some point. Considering how important his character would appear to be to the ongoing story, it's not hugely surprising that the part has been recast.

McCann most recently appeared in Gladiator II, and his previous credits include Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz, xXx: Return of Xander Cage, Jumanji: The Next Level, the Knuckles TV show for Paramount+, and the animated series Transformers: EarthSpark.

McCann and Stevenson were reportedly close friends, which makes this news all the more poignant.

Updates on the second season of Ahsoka have been sparse, but production is expected to get underway later this year.

What do you make of this casting news? Let us know in the comments section down below.

Set after the fall of the Empire, Ahsoka follows the former Jedi knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.

The series stars Rosario Dawson in the title role, with Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbeth, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll, David Tennant as Huyang, Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn, with Eman Esfandi appearing as Ezra Bridger.

Kevin Kiner was announced as the series' composer.

Ahoska is written by executive producer Dave Filoni, alongside executive producers Favreau, Kennedy, Wilson, and Beck. Gilchrist is co-executive producer. The series’ directors include Filoni, Steph Green, Peter Ramsey, Jennifer Getzinger, Geeta Vasant Patel and Rick Famuyiwa.

All episodes are now streaming on Disney+.

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40 Comments

Gmoney84 - 1/10/2025, 7:48 AM

Solid choice. Rory’s great. Here’s hoping he does well.

DUCKBOY - 1/10/2025, 7:54 AM

So sad, he really did breath life into this character, high hopes that Rory can capture that spark again like he did with the hound

Conquistador - 1/10/2025, 7:57 AM

Not a bad choice. Glad the know the role will continue aswell as clearly there was more planned. RIP Mr Stevenson

The1st - 1/10/2025, 9:44 AM

@Conquistador - Would have preferred Sean Bean, has the same kind of gravitas, but that was probably cost prohibitive.

Conquistador - 1/10/2025, 9:59 AM

@The1st - Bean is almost a foot shorter than Stevenson was, and Bean doesn't have such a commanding presence (at least in my opinion) as Stevenson did or McCann does.

The1st - 1/10/2025, 10:07 AM

@Conquistador - Perhaps, I guess we'll see. He probably wants to do Ray proud, so I'm sure it'll be a passion project of sorts. Going to be interesting to see how far they lean into the Mortis stuff on a streaming budget. I hope Abeloth becomes a thing in some capacity and the Whills as well.

MotherGooseUPus - 1/10/2025, 7:59 AM

I will miss Ray, thought he did a great job, but knowing that The Hound was friends with Ray, i think he will do this character justice... and I for one, am looking forward to the second season. I Loved S1

The1st - 1/10/2025, 9:47 AM

@MotherGooseUPus - It reminds me of a lot of modern IP stuff, has its moments but also wtf moments too. Also looking forward to it as it’s essentially a continuation of the CW/Rebels story.

MotherGooseUPus - 1/10/2025, 10:00 AM

@The1st - I liked CW alot, but for some reason Loved Rebels even more and idk why... Bad Batch was also pretty damn great too

The1st - 1/10/2025, 10:10 AM

@MotherGooseUPus - Yeah, they filled a much-needed void that live action was not. I wouldn't have minded a KOTOR/Old Rebublic series in that animation style and essentially a blank canvas outside of Revan and the various iterations of that franchise's emperor.

MotherGooseUPus - 1/10/2025, 11:04 AM

@The1st - i dont know much at all about that era of SW, but it certainly has me intrigued and would love a show to explore that time... ample potential but they seem very stuck in their ways... its too bad

Clintthahamster - 1/10/2025, 8:08 AM

There was never going to be a perfect replacement, but McCann comes damn close. He's got kindness, gravitas, and, you know, he's huge.

TheVisionary25 - 1/10/2025, 8:36 AM

@Clintthahamster - idk if I would say Kindness is a quality of Skoll lol but he did have this serenity or I guess gentleness to him which thinking about it more I guess McCann can embody.

I think once I see him in the full getup I might be more sold on it then I am right now.

Clintthahamster - 1/10/2025, 9:31 AM

@TheVisionary25 - Yeah, kindness isn't the right word. You could tell he took his role as mentor seriously, and he didn't seem to be outright evil, just on the wrong path.

TheVisionary25 - 1/10/2025, 9:40 AM

@Clintthahamster - yeah , I guess more grey if anything.

I enjoyed Ashoka S1 but he was by far the most intriguing character to me.

defenderofthefaith - 1/10/2025, 8:12 AM

It’s got to be a tough situation for him. On one hand you’re excited to get a new role. On the other hand you know why it was available. I hope he does well.

WEAPONXOXOXO - 1/10/2025, 8:15 AM

That how it's done! You find another actor to replace the one who past away.

McMurdo - 1/10/2025, 8:18 AM

Good choice!

DocSpock - 1/10/2025, 8:25 AM

I haven't gotten around to watching Ahsoka yet. I'm sure I will, but my mind will keep wandering to Rosario's sweet lips on my......

...Gotta go......

ExSOLDIER - 1/10/2025, 8:37 AM

“Any Jedi dies with a clean lightsaber, I'll rape his [frick]ing corpse!”

TheVisionary25 - 1/10/2025, 9:00 AM

@ExSOLDIER - Yarp.

CharlesLeeRay - 1/10/2025, 8:38 AM

TheNewYorker - 1/10/2025, 9:02 AM

@CharlesLeeRay - going with someone who resembles him feels disrespectful.

dragon316 - 1/10/2025, 9:29 AM

@TheNewYorker - did it with Carrie fisher cgi was used same with Luke

TheVisionary25 - 1/10/2025, 8:43 AM

Honestly , i think Rory’s good but don’t think I’m fully sold on him as Baylan Skoll…

Stevenson brought such a presence and especially gravitas to the role that I’m not sure if Mr McCann could embody entirely but we’ll see.

Plus I always viewed him as playing more gruff characters and while Baylan did look & seem like that , he didn’t feel like that too me which I liked.

Anyway , still willing to give him a shot though and if it’s true that they were close friends then it’s nice of him to step into the shoes of the character and see his story through!!.

bkmeijer1 - 1/10/2025, 8:46 AM

Skoll's ending felt conclusive enough for me and didn't need a recast, but I think this is an unexpectedly good choice. He can make the role his own more than some fancastings imo.

PatchesOhulihan - 1/10/2025, 8:54 AM

@bkmeijer1 - I haven't watched it in ages, but I don't recall it feeling conclusive to me. I thought it wrapped nicely for the season arc, but also that Skoll also had much bigger plans in store with the Mortis Gods/Force/Ancient stuff. Sort of like a soft cliff hanger, maybe?

TheVisionary25 - 1/10/2025, 8:58 AM

@bkmeijer1 - oh I disagree about his story feeling conclusive in S1 , it felt more open ended for me since we still don’t know exactly what he wants

I do agree that out of the choices I had heard ,McCann seems like he could make the role is his own moreso (though I still hope he feels somewhat like him)

My choices were still Graham McTavish or Vincent Reagan who might have been closer to Stevenson’s portrayal.

bkmeijer1 - 1/10/2025, 9:25 AM

@TheVisionary25 - it was definitely open ended. Still, to me it felt his goal was to find a higher power, which turned out to be the Mortis gods. They could follow up on it, but he reached his goal and so I felt it was conclusive (enough)

TheVisionary25 - 1/10/2025, 9:31 AM

@bkmeijer1 - yeah but to what it end?.

It seemed that he wanted to find it to somehow end the constant cycle of war in the universe but we’ll see.

bkmeijer1 - 1/10/2025, 9:51 AM

@TheVisionary25 - yeah could be. I kinda took it as he wanted it for himself to know there's more in the universe than endless conflicts

The1st - 1/10/2025, 10:12 AM

@PatchesOhulihan - True. I prefer this to the BP2 approach of not recasting, and then having the character die off screen.

AgentofSH1ELD - 1/10/2025, 8:55 AM

Ray Stevenson was very underrated as an actor. Too bad he didnt get bigger rolls than what he did but maybe that's what he preferred to play.
I mean.. really.. his Punisher was quite good minus the story and dudes terrible job as jigsaw

TheNewYorker - 1/10/2025, 9:00 AM

The news on this site be hella slow now.

FusionWarrior - 1/10/2025, 9:01 AM

Fitting choice

mdwilliamson24 - 1/10/2025, 9:01 AM

I don't know if I'll be able to watch McCann in a role where he's not allowed to say
"[frick] the King!"

It just won't be the same.

Crtdacct2say - 1/10/2025, 9:19 AM

Goodbye Darth Santa and hello Darth Hound.

Honestly it's a sad loss but I'm glad they are going with recasting rather than just writing the character out.

MrDandy - 1/10/2025, 9:22 AM

Still sad Ray will not be returning RIP, but the hound will be a good fit for the role. Bring it!

marvel72 - 1/10/2025, 10:19 AM

Too soon, if you can't recast T"Challa then you can't recast Baylon.

stevezegers - 1/10/2025, 11:04 AM

He's not the actor that Ray Stevenson is (he was so good on Rome), but this works.

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AHSOKA Season 2 Will See GAME OF THRONES' Rory McCann Replace The Late Ray Stevenson As Baylan Skoll

Ray Stevenson sadly passed away in 2023 shortly after filming his scenes for Ahsoka, but his character, Baylan Skoll, will live on, with Game of Thrones alum Rory McCann set to take over for season 2...

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DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.