The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 was brimming with exciting updates about Season 2, including a first look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll, behind-the-scenes stories, and much more. To keep you fully informed, we're breaking down all the key highlights here.
While no footage or release date for Season 2 of Ahsoka was revealed, we did gain some insights into what fans can anticipate in the forthcoming episodes. Let's delve into the details.
First Look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka Revealed at Star Wars Celebration
The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration provided the first glimpse of Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Season 2. For those unfamiliar, McCann steps into the role following the untimely passing of Ray Stevenson, who brought Baylan to life in the first season.
Ray Stevenson passed away just three months before the premiere of Ahsoka, and his portrayal of Baylan was a standout for many fans. Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni discussed the challenge of moving forward after Stevenson, emphasizing how Ray was "the most beautiful person on screen and off." Despite the difficulty, Filoni expressed confidence that Ray would approve of the path they've chosen for the character. Filoni highlighted that Baylan serves as Ahsoka's parallel in every way and praised Stevenson for setting an iconic benchmark for the role. He also shared his gratitude for meeting and casting McCann, noting that McCann's primary focus is to honor Stevenson's legacy.
Hayden Christensen Is Officially Returning as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka Season 2
After his significant contribution to the first season of Ahsoka, it was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2. Although specifics about Anakin's role in the new episodes remain under wraps, Christensen shared his enthusiasm during the Ahsoka panel, stating, "It was a dream to get to do. The way they conceived how to do it was brilliant in getting to explore the World Between Worlds. I thought it was all really exciting."
Dave Filoni humorously noted the lengths he went to work with Christensen again, saying he had to "invent entire dimensions to make it happen." Christensen expressed joy in portraying a version of Anakin from the Clone Wars that he hadn't previously explored in live-action. He added, "All of this had been presented well in the animated world, but I was really excited to do that in live action. As much as I love the traditional Jedi robes I wore during the prequels, it was exciting to get to see Anakin with a new look."
Ahsoka Will See the Return of Many More Familiar Faces
While the Ahsoka panel did not feature a traditional trailer, it did offer a sneak peek at what to expect in Season 2 and confirmed the return of beloved characters such as Sabine, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper. The teaser, composed of still images, also hinted at significant roles for Admiral Ackbar and Grand Admiral Thrawn, along with the delightful inclusion of Loth-Kittens. Dave Filoni teased the presence of "X-Wings, A-Wings, and Wings I can't tell you about."
Although the exact return date for Ahsoka on Disney+ remains undisclosed, it was revealed that the team is currently in the process of re-writing episodes as production is set to commence next week.
Behind-the-Scenes Stories Reveal More About Ahsoka
In addition to the Season 2 announcements, the panel offered deeper insights into Ahsoka's creation, inspirations, and more, shared by the actors and creatives behind the series. Dave Filoni spoke about his admiration for Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki, citing Princess Mononoke as his favorite film and the inspiration behind Ahsoka's distinctive wolf fang markings.
Joined by Jon Favreau and Rosario Dawson on stage, they discussed the origins of the Ahsoka series. The concept emerged after Season 1 of The Mandalorian when Filoni and Favreau contemplated their next project. Filoni, a key figure in Ahsoka Tano's creation alongside George Lucas, and Favreau decided to explore bringing her into live-action. This led to Ahsoka's appearance in Season 2 of The Mandalorian, where Rosario Dawson was cast following Ashley Eckstein's acclaimed voice work in the animated series.
Dawson shared her excitement upon being chosen for the role, recalling the moment she saw art and drawings of her as Ahsoka and had to mute herself on a video call to contain her excitement. Initially, the team approached her cameo as a one-off, unsure if they could sustain Ahsoka's presence long-term. Dawson expressed her gratitude, saying, "Even if this never happens again, I’m so grateful. It was just so magnificent on so many levels. To see the fan reaction that allowed this story to continue was a dream come true."
As Ahsoka's journey expanded beyond that initial episode, the team faced the challenge of bringing her story to life day-to-day. Jon Favreau noted, "When we started to move into the Ahsoka episodes with revisited characters like Bo-Katan, everything shifted toward a continuation of what Dave and George had done with animation while culminating storylines that had already been established."
For the team, Ahsoka's narrative mirrors the experience of watching A New Hope, beginning in the middle of her journey with much history preceding and following. Rosario Dawson, equally excited about exploring Ahsoka's story further, shared, "I did not know where this character was going in live action. I could understand her fear, anxiety, and stress and desire to help from afar. She wasn't willing to take over the mentor role herself, so it became a wonderful thing that I got to explore."
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