Star Wars Celebration: Ahsoka Panel Reveals

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 was packed with previews for Season 2, featuring the debut of Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll, behind-the-scenes stories from the series' production, and much more. To make sure you catch every detail, we've compiled a complete rundown right here.

Although no Season 2 footage or a release date was shared, we did get some hints about what the new episodes will bring. Let's dive straight into the details.

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

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration offered the first glimpse of Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Season 2. For those unaware, McCann is stepping into the role following the passing of Ray Stevenson.

Stevenson passed away just three months before Ahsoka premiered, yet his performance as Baylan stood out as a highlight of the series for countless fans.

Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni discussed the difficulty of moving forward after Ray's death, noting he was "the most beautiful person on screen and off." After some reflection, Filoni said he is "confident Ray would be happy with the direction we've chosen."

For Filoni, Baylan is designed to be a direct parallel to Ahsoka in every aspect, and he expressed gratitude that "there's a blueprint for this character because Ray portrayed him so iconically." Filoni also mentioned feeling fortunate to have met and cast McCann, who was entirely focused on "not letting Ray down."

Hayden Christensen Confirmed to Return as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka Season 2

After a significant role in Ahsoka's first season, it was officially confirmed at Star Wars Celebration that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2.

While Anakin's part in the new episodes remains largely under wraps, Christensen joined the Ahsoka panel to share his thoughts on returning to the beloved character.

"It was a dream come true," Christensen remarked. "The concept of exploring the World Between Worlds was brilliant. I found the whole approach incredibly exciting."

For series creator Dave Filoni, bringing Christensen back was a major goal. He joked about having to "invent entire dimensions to make it happen."

Christensen also shared that one of the rewards of returning was portraying a Clone Wars-era version of Anakin that he hadn't fully embodied before.

"This side of Anakin was well-established in animation, but I was thrilled to bring it to life in live-action," Christensen said. "While I'm fond of the classic Jedi robes from the prequels, it was exciting to present Anakin with a fresh appearance."

Ahsoka Season 2 Welcomes Back Numerous Familiar Characters

Though the Ahsoka panel didn't include a conventional trailer, it provided a sneak peek into Season 2 and which characters will return. The preview consisted of still images rather than moving footage, confirming that Sabine, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper are all set to reappear.

Additional panel insights revealed that Admiral Ackbar will have a major role in the upcoming storyline, facing off against Grand Admiral Thrawn. The season will also feature incredibly cute Loth-Kittens and, according to Filoni, "X-Wings, A-Wings, and other types of Wings I can't reveal yet."

A release date for Ahsoka on Disney+ has not been announced, but it was shared that the team is still revising scripts as production begins next week.

Behind-the-Scenes Insights Shed Light on Ahsoka's Creation

Alongside the Season 2 announcements, the cast and creators shared more about Ahsoka's inspirations and development. Filoni explained that he draws significant inspiration from Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki, with Princess Mononoke being his favorite film. In fact, this movie inspired the two wolf fangs on Ahsoka's cheeks.

Filoni was joined on stage by Jon Favreau and Rosario Dawson, who discussed how the Ahsoka series came to be. The idea emerged after The Mandalorian's first season, during a conversation between Filoni and Favreau about what to tackle next.

Filoni's deep connection to Ahsoka Tano, a character he co-created with George Lucas, led them to explore a live-action adaptation. This eventually resulted in her introduction in The Mandalorian Season 2, once they found the right actor and visual style.

Rosario Dawson was ultimately chosen to play Ahsoka in live-action, following Ashley Eckstein's memorable voice performance in animation. Dawson recounted the moment she learned she'd been cast.

This followed a substantial online campaign supporting Dawson for the role, and both Filoni and Favreau agreed she was an ideal fit. When she received the offer, they showed her concept art of herself as Ahsoka. Dawson said she had to mute the video call because she was leaping with excitement.

At the time, the team viewed this Ahsoka appearance as a one-time opportunity, uncertain if a long-term series was feasible.

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"Even if this never happens again, I’m so grateful," Dawson said. "It was a magnificent experience on so many levels. Witnessing the fan support that allowed this story to continue was a dream come true.”

As we now know, Ahsoka's story expanded well beyond that single episode. Though there were initial doubts about sustaining a daily live-action series due to its complexity, the effort ultimately paid off.

"As we developed the Ahsoka episodes and brought back characters like Bo-Katan, the narrative evolved into a continuation of the stories Dave and George built in animation, while wrapping up established plotlines," Favreau explained.

From the creators' perspective, Ahsoka shares similarities with A New Hope—it drops viewers into the middle of Ahsoka's journey, with rich history before and after. The approach felt entirely natural.

There is still much to uncover about Ahsoka, and Dawson is as eager as the audience to delve deeper into her story.

"I had no idea where this character was headed in live action," Dawson admitted. "I connected with her fear, anxiety, and her wish to help from a distance. She hesitated to step into a mentorship role, which made her journey a fascinating one to portray."