Star Wars Celebration: Everything Announced at the Ahsoka Panel

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 catch every detail, we've compiled all the highlights right here.

While we're still waiting for footage and a release date for Season 2 of Ahsoka, the panel provided some tantalizing insights into what fans can expect from 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 offered fans their first glimpse of Rory McCann stepping into the role of Baylan Skoll for Season 2. For those who might not know, McCann is taking over the 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 performance as Baylan was widely celebrated by fans as a highlight of the series. Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni discussed the challenge of moving forward after losing Stevenson, emphasizing how Stevenson was "the most beautiful person on screen and off." Filoni expressed confidence that Stevenson would approve of the direction they've chosen for the character.

Filoni views Baylan as Ahsoka's counterpart in every aspect, and he's grateful for the "blueprint" Stevenson left behind. He also expressed gratitude for meeting and casting McCann, who he believes is focused on honoring Stevenson's legacy.

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

Following his significant role in the first season, it was officially confirmed at Star Wars Celebration that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2 of Ahsoka. While details about Anakin's involvement in the new episodes remain under wraps, Christensen shared his enthusiasm for returning to the character during the 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."

Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni humorously noted that he had to "invent entire dimensions" to bring Christensen back as Anakin. For Christensen, playing a version of Anakin from the Clone Wars era was particularly rewarding, as it allowed him to explore a side of the character 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

While the Ahsoka panel didn't feature a traditional trailer, it did offer a sneak peek into Season 2, confirming the return of beloved characters such as Sabine, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper. The teaser was composed of static images rather than moving footage.

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

Although the exact return date for Ahsoka on Disney+ remains undisclosed, the team is currently in the process of rewriting 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 delved into the creation of Ahsoka, its inspirations, and more, with insights from the actors and creative team. Dave Filoni shared that he draws significant inspiration from Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki, citing Princess Mononoke as his favorite film and the reason for Ahsoka's distinctive wolf fangs.

Joined by Jon Favreau and Rosario Dawson, Filoni discussed how the Ahsoka series came to life. It all started after Season 1 of The Mandalorian when Filoni and Favreau considered what to bring to life next. Filoni, who co-created Ahsoka Tano with George Lucas, and Favreau agreed on exploring Ahsoka in live-action.

Rosario Dawson was chosen to portray Ahsoka following a strong fan campaign, taking over from Ashley Eckstein's animated portrayal. Dawson shared her excitement upon learning she would play the character, recalling how Filoni and Favreau showed her art and drawings during a video call, leading to a moment of pure joy.

Initially, Ahsoka's live-action appearance was intended to be a one-off, but the overwhelming fan response paved the way for a more extended journey. As Favreau explained, "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."

For the team, Ahsoka's narrative is akin to watching A New Hope, as it picks up in the middle of her journey, building on the rich history already established. Dawson is thrilled to further explore Ahsoka's story, saying, "I did not know where this character was going in live action. 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 expressed. "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."