Ahsoka Panel at Star Wars Celebration: Key Announcements

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 was packed with exciting teases for Season 2, a first look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll, behind-the-scenes stories, and much more. To ensure you don't miss out on any of the action, we're here to break down all the key highlights from the panel.

While we're still eagerly awaiting footage and a release date for Season 2 of Ahsoka, the panel offered tantalizing glimpses into what fans can expect from the upcoming episodes. Let's dive right in and explore what was revealed.

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

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration unveiled our first look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll for Season 2. For those unfamiliar, McCann steps into the role following the passing of Ray Stevenson, who originally portrayed Baylan.

Stevenson tragically passed away just three months before the premiere of Ahsoka, but his performance as Baylan was widely acclaimed as the highlight of the series. Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni spoke candidly about the challenge of continuing without Ray, emphasizing that Stevenson was "the most beautiful person on screen and off." Despite the difficulty, Filoni is "confident Ray would be happy with the direction we've chosen."

Filoni views Baylan as a parallel to Ahsoka in every way and is grateful that "there's a blueprint for what this character should be because Ray had played him so iconically." He also expressed his gratitude for meeting and casting McCann, noting that McCann's "whole focus was not letting Ray down."

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

After his pivotal role in the first season of Ahsoka, it was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2. While details about Anakin's role remain under wraps, Christensen attended the Ahsoka panel to share his excitement about returning to the character.

"It was a dream to get to do," Christensen said, praising the creative approach to his character's journey through the World Between Worlds. "I thought it was all really exciting."

Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni humorously noted that he was so eager to work with Christensen again that he "had to invent entire dimensions to make it happen." For Christensen, one of the joys of returning was portraying a version of Anakin from the Clone Wars that he hadn't previously explored in live-action. "All of this had been presented well in the animated world, but I was really excited to do that in live action," he said, expressing his enthusiasm for Anakin's new look beyond the traditional Jedi robes.

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, also teased the involvement of Admiral Ackbar in a significant storyline, facing off against Grand Admiral Thrawn. Fans can also look forward to seeing adorable Loth-Kittens and, as Filoni hinted, "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 revealed that the team is currently re-writing episodes as production is set to begin next week.

Behind-the-Scenes Stories Reveal More About Ahsoka

In addition to the Season 2 reveals, the panel provided deeper insights into Ahsoka's inspirations and production. 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 considered what to explore next. Filoni's deep connection to Ahsoka Tano, a character he co-created with George Lucas, led to the decision to bring her into live-action.

Rosario Dawson was chosen to portray Ahsoka following Ashley Eckstein's acclaimed performance in the animated series. Dawson shared her excitement upon learning she would play the character, recalling how she muted herself on a video call to contain her enthusiasm after seeing the artwork of her as Ahsoka. Initially, her appearance was intended as a one-off, but the overwhelming fan response paved the way for Ahsoka's continued journey.

Jon Favreau highlighted how the Ahsoka series evolved, integrating revisited characters like Bo-Katan and continuing storylines established in animation. For the team, Ahsoka's narrative mirrors the experience of watching A New Hope, starting in the middle of her journey with much history and future to explore.

Rosario Dawson expressed her excitement about delving deeper into Ahsoka's character, understanding her fears, anxieties, and her reluctance to take on a mentor role. "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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"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 Ahsoka's journey continues to unfold, fans can look forward to more thrilling adventures and deeper explorations of this beloved character's universe.