The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 was packed with exciting updates and sneak peeks for Season 2, including a first look at Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll, behind-the-scenes stories, and much more. To ensure you stay in the loop, we've gathered all the key highlights here.

While we're still awaiting footage and a release date for Season 2 of Ahsoka, the panel provided tantalizing glimpses into what fans can anticipate from the upcoming episodes. Let's dive in and explore the latest developments.

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

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration offered our first glimpse of Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Season 2. For those unfamiliar, McCann is taking over the role following the tragic passing of Ray Stevenson, who brought Baylan to life in the first season.

Stevenson passed away just three months before Ahsoka's premiere, and his performance as Baylan was a standout for many fans. Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni discussed the challenge of moving forward after Ray's loss, praising him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off." Filoni expressed confidence that Ray would be pleased with the direction they've chosen for the character.

For Filoni, Baylan serves as a counterpart to Ahsoka in every way, and he's thankful for the iconic portrayal by Ray, which provided a strong blueprint for the character. Filoni also highlighted how fortunate he felt to have met and cast Rory McCann, who was focused on honoring Ray's legacy.

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

Following his significant role in the first season of Ahsoka, it was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration that Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2. While specifics about Anakin's role remain under wraps, Christensen shared 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, especially with the World Between Worlds. It was all really exciting."

Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni humorously noted his determination to work with Christensen again, even joking about inventing entire dimensions to make it happen. For Christensen, returning as Anakin allowed him to explore a version of the character from the Clone Wars era, which he hadn't portrayed 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 Ahsoka panel didn't feature a traditional trailer, it did offer a glimpse into Season 2 and confirmed the return of beloved characters such as Sabine, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper. The trailer, composed of still images, teased exciting developments.

The panel also 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 begin next week.

Behind-the-Scenes Stories Reveal More About Ahsoka

In addition to the Season 2 announcements, the panel delved into the inspirations and creation of Ahsoka, with insights 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 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 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. Initially, her appearance was intended as a one-off, but the overwhelming fan response 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 series evolved, it incorporated revisited characters like Bo-Katan, blending the established animated storylines with new live-action developments. Favreau emphasized that 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 enthusiasm for 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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