AHSOKA recasts Ray Stevenson’s Baylan Skoll with Rory McCann.

Ray Stevenson’s portrayal of Baylan Skoll in the AHSOKA series was a highlight for me. His commanding presence and conviction in every scene instantly made him a fan favourite. In my personal opinion, he deserved an award for the role. Tragically, he passed away three months before the series premiered, never seeing the praise garnered by his portrayal of the character.

In Season one of AHSOKA, Baylan, a dark mercenary and former Jedi, played a pivotal role in the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn to the known galaxy. Leaving his apprentice behind, he ventured on a quest for a mysterious power on the planet of Peridea. The character’s final scene was set amidst the massive statues of the Mortis Gods, leaving fans with a sense of foreboding about the series’ future.

Now, we have exciting news that Baylan’s story will continue in Season 2. In a heartwarming tribute to Stevenson, Star Wars has chosen to honor his legacy by recasting the role. Rory McCann a friend of Stevenson, renowned for his portrayal of Sandor Clegane, aka The Hound in Game of Thrones, will take on the mantle of Baylan. If reports are accurate, Lucasfilm reached out to Stevenson’s widow, who approved McCann to carry on the character’s journey.

McCann is a talented actor, and I believe he will excel in following in Stevenson’s footsteps. It would have been unsatisfying to have written Baylan’s story offscreen between seasons. Therefore, it seems we will finally receive closure to his quest for an unknown power, which he believes holds the key to transforming the galaxy he sees as broken.