Actor Ray Stevenson died on Might 21, 2023, three months earlier than Star Wars followers obtained to see him play Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka Season 1 with their their Disney+ subscription. For the reason that season ended making it clear Baylan’s story was meant to proceed, it was unclear at first if the function can be recast for the following season or if these narrative plans can be scrapped. Then it was revealed in January that Rory McCann would take over enjoying Baylan, and now the Recreation of Thrones alum has defined why he thinks this was the “proper resolution” for Ahsoka Season 2.
McCann, who performed The Hound within the widespread HBO sequence (which could be streamed with a Max subscription), opened up about succeeding Stevenson within the upcoming Star Wars TV present whereas talking with ComicBook about his 2025 film launch Twister, saying:
I believe it’s the precise resolution to hold on his storyline, not simply reduce it off. We’ve achieved it earlier than with different issues. I hope the followers embrace it and I’ll do my finest. I’m simply beginning now, so I’m simply making an attempt to be in the precise zone for doing it. It’s fairly bloody thrilling. I imply, I bear in mind being a child with my dad, going to the primary one most likely within the late ’70s and ’80s. Now I’m coaching with a lightsaber at evening, so it’s fairly thrilling.
Baylan Skoll was final seen on the planet Peridea, stranded there similar to Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren and his now-former apprentice Shin Hati. In contrast to these three although, that is precisely the place Baylan needed to be, as he was decided to discover a supply of nice energy on this world that he believed would lastly finish the battle between the sunshine and darkish sides of the Pressure. It appeared like he was making progress when he found statues of the three Mortis Gods, who have been beforehand seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
I agree with Rory McCann that it was the higher transfer to recast Baylan relatively than simply write him out Ahsoka. Truthfully, with all of the groundwork that was laid for the character in Season 1, it looks like it might have taken extra effort to give you a believable, in-universe clarification for why his storyline was being deserted. Ray Stevenson did a superb job enjoying Baylan in Season 1, however now it’s time to see how McCann will do enjoying him, and it feels like he’s been having fun with the preparation course of for Season 2.
Baylan Skoll isn’t the one main Star Wars character to be recast just lately. We simply noticed Benjamin Bratt enjoying Bail Organa within the recently-concluded Andor Season 2, although in that case, this took place due to scheduling conflicts with Jimmy Smits, Bail’s unique actor. After which, after all, a lot of the main established characters on Ahsoka are performed by completely different actors than the one who voiced them in Star Wars Rebels, together with Rosario Dawson because the title protagonist, Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla and Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger.
I’m wanting ahead to seeing how Rory McCann appears to be like wielding the orange lightsaber and selecting up on Baylan Skoll the place Ray Stevenson left off. Ahsoka Season 2 doesn’t have a launch date but, however principal pictures started in late April.