When Ray Stevenson died, Ahsoka season two nearly died with it. Dave Filoni, the present’s creator, was at Star Wars Celebration Japan this weekend and did a panel about his Disney+ show. Alongside the best way, the subject of Stevenson’s passing got here up and Filoni acquired visibly emotional. Stevenson performed fallen Jedi Grasp Baylan Skoll, a personality that clearly had a huge role to play in the way forward for the collection—nevertheless, Filoni revealed it went a lot deeper than that.
“Season two was clearly an enormous problem anyway, but it surely was a very massive problem due to a shedding Ray,” Filoni stated through the panel. “He was simply the best particular person and such an ideal spirit on the present. I knew Ray from working in voice appearing with him, I simply at all times immediately linked with him and thought, ‘After I make live-action, I want this man to painting a strong Jedi Knight which have had in thoughts.’ And he didn’t disappoint in any approach. Ray was probably the most stunning particular person on display screen and off, he was fantastic to all of us. Nonetheless massive of a loss you assume it’s, it’s larger.”
“It was a problem for me even to contemplate persevering with [Ahsoka] for some time,” he continued. “However I’ve an ideal assist group with Jon [Favreau] and Rosario [Dawson] and I discovered a approach. I had Ray in my head and I’m grateful for all of the conversations with him about Baylan. So I understood what to do, it simply took some time to get there. However I’m very assured now that Ray could be proud of the route that we’ve chosen.”
Season one ended with Baylan on a private quest to seek out deeper that means within the Power, with Ahsoka and Sabine scorching on his tail. However based on Filoni, the explanation for Baylan current is extra than simply as a foul man.
“The character was meant to be necessary,” Filoni stated. “He’s meant to be the parallel to Ahsoka in each approach. If there’s a light-weight, there’s a darkish and Baylan is representing a special journey of a Jedi that’s misplaced his approach. As a lot as [Ahsoka] represents one which’s type of walked away from the Order, so did he. And that parallel is one thing that should proceed.”
Realizing he needed to proceed the story to honor Stevenson, Filoni and government producer Jon Favreau knew there was just one possibility: recast the character. And as previously reported, they discovered their man in Scottish actor Rory McCann. “In essence, as a result of Ray carried out it so iconically, there’s a blueprint for what this character needs to be,” Filoni stated. “After which I talked to Jon and Jon and I made a decision that we simply wanted to seek out the best particular person that will not simply perceive the character, but additionally perceive a little bit of what Ray delivered to it as properly. It’s one thing imperceptible. One thing simply within the eyes, to be sincere, and I feel we each felt very lucky that we met Rory McCann. So Rory might be taking on the position.”
Filoni stated that McCann, finest identified for roles in Recreation of Thrones and Sizzling Fuzz, is coming in with one foremost purpose: make the legacy of Ray Stevenson stay on. “[Rory] takes it very significantly. He’s an enormous man with an enormous coronary heart, and he has such respect for Ray and what he delivered to this. I do know this sole focus is just not letting Ray down and never letting you guys down. You’ll love them, and we love him and I like what he’s taking over. It’s an enormous deal, so the pressure is with him.”
Ahsoka season two begins taking pictures by the tip of April. No phrase on a launch date, however we have now to think about someday in late 2026.
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