Ahsoka Panel at Star Wars Celebration: Key Announcements

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 was packed with exciting updates and teases for Season 2, including a first look at Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll, stories from behind the scenes, and much more. To ensure you stay in the loop, we're here to provide a comprehensive breakdown of all the major announcements.

While we're still waiting on footage and a release date for Season 2, the panel provided some intriguing insights into what fans can anticipate from the upcoming episodes. Let's dive right in and explore the highlights.

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

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration gave us our first glimpse of Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Season 2. For those unfamiliar, McCann takes on this role following the tragic passing of Ray Stevenson, who originally portrayed Baylan.

Stevenson passed away just three months before the premiere of Ahsoka, yet his portrayal of Baylan was a standout for many fans. Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni discussed the emotional challenge of moving forward without Ray, describing him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off." Filoni expressed confidence that Ray would approve of the direction they've chosen for the character.

Filoni emphasized that Baylan is designed to be Ahsoka's counterpart in every way, and he's thankful for the "blueprint" Ray left behind. He also highlighted his gratitude in finding McCann, noting that his primary focus was to honor Ray's legacy.

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

After playing a pivotal role in Season 1, it was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2. While specifics about Anakin's role in the new episodes remain under wraps, Christensen shared his enthusiasm about returning to the character at the Ahsoka panel.

"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 significant milestone. He humorously mentioned needing to "invent entire dimensions" to make it happen. Christensen also expressed joy in portraying a version of Anakin from the Clone Wars era, which he hadn't explored in live-action 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

Although the panel didn't feature a traditional trailer, it did offer a glimpse into Season 2, confirming the return of beloved characters such as Sabine, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper. The trailer, composed of still images, teased what's to come.

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

While the exact return date for Ahsoka on Disney+ remains undisclosed, it was mentioned that the team is currently re-writing episodes as production is set to start next week.

Behind-the-Scenes Stories Reveal More About Ahsoka

In addition to the Season 2 announcements, the panel offered a deeper look into the making of Ahsoka, its inspirations, and more from the actors and creatives involved. Dave Filoni shared his admiration for Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki, citing Princess Mononoke as his favorite film and the inspiration behind Ahsoka's distinctive wolf fangs.

Joined by Jon Favreau and Rosario Dawson on stage, they discussed the journey of bringing Ahsoka to life. The idea emerged after Season 1 of The Mandalorian, when Filoni and Favreau were brainstorming their next project. Filoni's deep connection to Ahsoka Tano, a character he co-created with George Lucas, led them to explore bringing her into live-action.

Rosario Dawson was chosen to portray Ahsoka after Ashley Eckstein's acclaimed performance in the animated series. Dawson shared her excitement upon learning she would play the character, especially after a significant online campaign supported her casting. She recalled being shown art and drawings of her as Ahsoka and needing to mute herself on a video call due to her overwhelming excitement.

Initially, the team approached Ahsoka's appearance in The Mandalorian as a one-off, unsure if they could sustain her in a long-term series. However, the positive fan reaction paved the way for Ahsoka's continued journey.

"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 project evolved, the inclusion of revisited characters like Bo-Katan shifted the focus toward continuing the narrative established in animation while culminating existing storylines. Favreau likened watching Ahsoka to experiencing A New Hope, as it starts mid-journey with much history and future to explore.

Rosario Dawson remains excited about delving deeper into Ahsoka's story, understanding her character's fears, anxieties, and desire to help from afar. "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."

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