Ahsoka Panel at Star Wars Celebration: Key Announcements

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 was packed with exciting news about Season 2, including a first look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll, Hayden Christensen's return as Anakin Skywalker, and much more. To make sure you catch all the details, we're breaking it down for you right here.

While we haven't seen any footage from Season 2 of Ahsoka yet or received a release date, we've gained some insight into what's in store for the upcoming episodes. Let's dive right in.

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

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration provided our first glimpse of Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll for Season 2. For those new to the series, McCann is taking over the role following the tragic passing of Ray Stevenson, who originally portrayed Baylan.

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

Filoni emphasized that Baylan is meant to be Ahsoka's counterpart in every way, and he's grateful for the iconic performance Stevenson provided as a blueprint for the character. He also shared his gratitude for meeting and casting McCann, who is focused on honoring Stevenson's legacy.

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

Hayden Christensen, who played a significant role in the first season of Ahsoka, will officially reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2, as confirmed at Star Wars Celebration. Although specifics about Anakin's role in the new episodes remain under wraps, Christensen attended the Ahsoka panel to discuss his excitement about returning.

"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."

This was also a big moment for Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni, who humorously mentioned that he needed to work with Christensen/Anakin again, even if it meant "inventing entire dimensions to make it happen."

Christensen enjoyed bringing to life a version of Anakin from the Clone Wars that he hadn't previously portrayed. "All of this had been presented well in the animated world, but I was really excited to do that in live action," he 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 Ahsoka panel did not feature a traditional trailer, it did offer a peek at what to expect in Season 2, confirming the return of beloved characters like Sabine, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper through a series of static images.

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, along with "X-Wings, A-Wings, and Wings I can't tell you about," according to Filoni.

Although the exact return date for Ahsoka on Disney+ remains undisclosed, it was noted that the team is still revising episodes as they gear up for production next week.

In addition to the Season 2 reveals, the panel offered insights into Ahsoka's creation, inspirations, and more from the actors and creatives involved. Dave Filoni shared that his work has been heavily influenced by Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki, particularly citing Princess Mononoke as his favorite film, which inspired Ahsoka's distinctive wolf fang cheek markings.

Joined by Jon Favreau and Rosario Dawson on stage, they discussed how the Ahsoka series came to life. It all started after Season 1 of The Mandalorian when Filoni and Favreau were brainstorming their next project. Filoni's deep connection to Ahsoka Tano, whom he co-created with George Lucas, led them to consider bringing her into live-action.

Rosario Dawson was ultimately cast as Ahsoka after Ashley Eckstein's acclaimed portrayal in the animated series. Dawson shared her excitement upon learning she'd play the character, mentioning the online campaign that supported her casting. "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."

Despite initial doubts about sustaining Ahsoka in live-action, the project evolved, especially with the inclusion of revisited characters like Bo-Katan. "When we started to move into the Ahsoka episodes with revisited characters like Bo-Katan, everything shifted toward a continuation of what Dave and George had done with animation while culminating storylines that had already been established," Favreau noted.

For the team, Ahsoka's narrative is akin to watching A New Hope, as it starts mid-journey with much history before and after. Dawson expressed her excitement about exploring and expanding Ahsoka's story. "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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