Rory McCann Calls Taking Over Ray Stevenson’s Role an ‘Honor’ in Star Wars Ahsoka Season 2

by

In the second season of Disney+’s Star Wars series, the character played by Game of Thrones alum McCann will step into the shoes of the late Baylan Skoll, the fallen Jedi. Following the unfortunate passing of Stevenson on May 21, 2023, at the age of 58, the studio has chosen McCann to carry on Stevenson’s legacy in portraying this intriguing new character. In an interview with George Edelman for MovieWeb, McCann expressed feeling honored to take over the role and be part of the growing Star Wars universe.

I find myself in uncharted territories, light years away from familiar grounds. The reality still feels surreal to me. Despite the challenging circumstances following Ray Stevenson’s passing and the daunting task of filling his large shoes, it is an immense privilege. Every night I practice wielding a lightsaber in my backyard, a sight I never thought I’d see. I can hardly believe it. I recall standing in line for the first Star Wars movie in 1978, and now I am part of this extraordinary universe.

Baylan Skoll’s adventure was merely starting in Ahsoka Season 1, as the ex-Jedi who managed to survive Order 66 embarked on an encounter with the Mortis Gods – colossal figures wielding immense Force power first seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. McCann plans to carry forward Skoll’s tale, hinting at an abundance of action for the character as we delve deeper into season 2.

Rory McCann Teases a Lot of Lightsaber Action for Baylan in ‘Ahsoka’ Season 2

Absolutely, Rory McCann has had plenty of experience wielding big weapons, thanks to his role as Sandor Clegane, or The Hound, on Game of Thrones. Going further, McCann discussed the contrast between battle techniques as The Hound and using a lightsaber. Interestingly, he isn’t shy about getting a bit messy while honing his combat skills…

No matter where I reside, I tend to be quite mobile, yet each dwelling seems to bear its own set of imperfections – scratched ceilings or malfunctioning lights. This is due to my propensity for wielding swords, or more recently, lightsabers. It’s a habit that’s hard to break, especially after a few drinks. I can’t discuss this too openly, but you can see Baylan’s character has a more samurai-like quality. He’s more composed and balanced, unlike the hound who might split you in two. [Baylan] carries himself distinctly differently.

A popular character from the beloved “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” series, Ahsoka Tano, appeared in live-action for the first time during the second season of “The Mandalorian.” Rosario Dawson, best known for her role in “Daredevil,” brought Ahsoka to life flawlessly. Created by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, “Ahsoka” premiered on Disney+ in 2023, with the storyline following the ex-Jedi Padawan as she uncovers a growing danger to an unstable galaxy while forming new friendships and enemies on her pursuit of the malevolent Grand Admiral Thrawn.

As a movie critic, I found myself captivated by the ensemble cast of Ahsoka, where Rosario Dawson brilliantly portrays the title character. The charismatic Sabine Wren, played by Natasha Liu Bordizzo, adds depth to the story. Mary Elizabeth Winstead delivers a compelling performance as Hera Syndulla, while Eman Esfandi brings Ezra Bridger to life with his convincing portrayal.

Genevieve O’Reilly, known for her roles as Mon Mothma, and the ever-faithful C-3PO, played by Anthony Daniels, make their presence felt in this star-studded production. The enigmatic Grand Admiral Thrawn is brought to life by Lars Mikkelsen, adding an air of mystery to the plot. And let’s not forget Hayden Christensen reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka’s former Jedi mentor, which adds a layer of emotional complexity to the narrative.

The second season of Ahsoka is ready to begin filming in the UK, and it will be available for streaming on Disney+ again.

Read More

2025-06-03 16:09