When the first trailer for Ahsoka debuted during Star Wars Celebration earlier this year, fans got a glimpse of a formidable force-sensitive character wielding a red (orange?) lightsaber.
His name was soon revealed to be Baylan Skoll, and he'll be played by Punisher: War Zone and Thor actor Ray Stevenson, who tragically passed away last month.
Very little has been disclosed about Skoll since, but in the latest issue of Empire Magazine, it's confirmed that he is indeed a former Jedi Knight who survived the events of Order 66 and became a mercenary for hire (which is why he's doing the bidding of Grand Admiral Thrawn).
“He is not genocidal or malicious or overly aggressive," said Stevenson during what may well turn out to be one of his final interviews. "He will request that you get out of his way. But if you don’t, he will take you out his way.”
What made Skoll turn from the Jedi path and become a bounty hunter? All we know is that a "tragic event" set him on a darker journey.
It sounds like Skoll is far from your typical Imperial agent, and may find some redemption during the series as he hunts down Ahsoka and her allies.
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.