Ahsoka Panel at Star Wars Celebration: Key Announcements

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 was packed with exciting updates and reveals for Season 2, including a first look at Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll, behind-the-scenes stories, and more. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know.

Although we haven't seen any footage or received a release date for Season 2 of Ahsoka, the panel provided valuable insights into what fans can anticipate in the upcoming episodes. Let's dive in.

First Look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka Revealed at Star Wars Celebration

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration offered a thrilling first glimpse of Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Season 2. For those unfamiliar, McCann has taken over the role following the tragic passing of Ray Stevenson, who originally portrayed Baylan.

Stevenson passed away just three months before the premiere of Ahsoka, leaving a significant impact on the series and its fans. Series creator Dave Filoni spoke candidly about the challenge of continuing without Stevenson, describing him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off." After some time, Filoni expressed confidence that Stevenson would approve of the direction they've chosen for Baylan.

Filoni emphasized that Baylan is meant to be Ahsoka's counterpart in every way, and he's grateful for Stevenson's iconic portrayal, which provided a blueprint for the character. He also shared his fortune in meeting and casting McCann, who focused on not letting Stevenson down.

Hayden Christensen Is Officially Returning as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka Season 2

Hayden Christensen, who played a pivotal role in the first season of Ahsoka, will officially return as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2, as confirmed at Star Wars Celebration. While details about Anakin's role remain under wraps, Christensen joined the panel to discuss his excitement about reprising the beloved character.

"It was a dream to get to do," Christensen remarked. "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."

For Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni, working with Christensen again was a big deal. He humorously mentioned needing to "invent entire dimensions to make it happen." Christensen also appreciated the opportunity to portray a version of Anakin from the Clone Wars era, which he hadn't fully explored before.

"All of this had been presented well in the animated world, but I was really excited to do that in live action," Christensen said. "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 panel didn't feature a traditional trailer, it did offer a glimpse of what to expect in Season 2, confirming the return of beloved characters such as Sabine, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper. The trailer consisted of still images rather than moving footage.

The panel also revealed that Admiral Ackbar will play a significant role in the upcoming story, facing off against Grand Admiral Thrawn. Additionally, fans can look forward to the adorable Loth-Kittens and, as Filoni teased, "X-Wings, A-Wings, and Wings I can't tell you about."

Production is set to begin next week, although the team is still in the process of rewriting episodes.

In addition to the Season 2 announcements, the panel delved into the inspirations and creation process behind Ahsoka. Dave Filoni shared his admiration for Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki, citing Princess Mononoke as his favorite film and the reason behind Ahsoka's distinctive wolf fang cheek markings.

Filoni was joined by Jon Favreau and Rosario Dawson, who discussed the journey of bringing Ahsoka to life. The idea for the Ahsoka series emerged after Season 1 of The Mandalorian, when Filoni and Favreau considered what to explore next. Filoni's passion for Ahsoka Tano, a character he co-created with George Lucas, led to the decision to introduce her in live-action.

Rosario Dawson was ultimately cast as Ahsoka after Ashley Eckstein's acclaimed portrayal in animation. Dawson shared her excitement and initial reaction to being offered the role, mentioning how she muted herself on a video call to express her joy without disrupting the conversation.

Initially, the team considered Ahsoka's appearance in The Mandalorian as a one-off, uncertain about the feasibility of a long-term project. However, the overwhelming fan reaction paved the way for a more extensive exploration of Ahsoka's story.

"Even if this never happens again, I’m so grateful," Dawson said. "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 the series progressed, particularly with episodes featuring revisited characters like Bo-Katan, the focus shifted towards continuing the narrative established in animation and culminating existing storylines, as Favreau explained.

For the team, Ahsoka's narrative mirrors the experience of watching A New Hope, as it captures a moment in Ahsoka's journey with much that came before and after. Dawson expressed her excitement about exploring and expanding Ahsoka's story, understanding the character's complexities and her reluctance to take on a mentor role.

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"I did not know where this character was going in live action," Dawson said. "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."