Ahsoka Panel Reveals: All Star Wars Celebration Announcements

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 was packed with exciting reveals and teases for Season 2, including a first look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll, confirmation of Hayden Christensen's return as Anakin Skywalker, and more. To make sure you catch every detail, we're here to break it all down for you.

Although we haven't seen footage or received a release date for Season 2 of Ahsoka, we did get some insights into what fans can anticipate in 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 unfamiliar, McCann is taking over the role following the untimely passing of Ray Stevenson, who died just three months before Ahsoka's premiere.

Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni discussed the challenge of moving forward after Ray Stevenson's death, emphasizing that Stevenson was "the most beautiful person on screen and off." Filoni expressed confidence that Stevenson would be pleased with the direction they've taken. Filoni views Baylan as a counterpart to Ahsoka in every way and appreciates having Stevenson's iconic performance as a guide. He also expressed gratitude for meeting and casting McCann, who was focused on honoring Stevenson's legacy.

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

After playing a significant 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 in the new episodes remain sparse, Christensen shared his excitement about returning to the character at the Ahsoka panel.

"It was a dream to get to do," Christensen said. "The way they conceived how to do it was brilliant, especially exploring the World Between Worlds. It was all really exciting."

For Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni, working with Christensen again was a big deal. He humorously mentioned needing to "invent entire dimensions" to make it happen. Christensen enjoyed bringing to life 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," 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

The Ahsoka panel didn't feature a traditional trailer but did provide a glimpse into Season 2, confirming the return of characters like Sabine, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper through static images. Additionally, it was revealed that Admiral Ackbar will play a significant role in the upcoming story, facing off against Grand Admiral Thrawn. The panel also teased the inclusion of 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 unknown, it was mentioned that the team is currently rewriting episodes as they prepare to start production next week.

Behind-the-Scenes Stories Reveal More About Ahsoka

In addition to the Season 2 reveals, the panel offered deeper insights into the making of Ahsoka, its inspirations, and more from the actors and creatives behind the series. Dave Filoni shared that he has been significantly influenced by Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki, particularly citing Princess Mononoke as his favorite movie and the inspiration for Ahsoka's distinctive wolf fangs.

Filoni, joined by Jon Favreau and Rosario Dawson on stage, discussed the origins of the Ahsoka series. It began after Season 1 of The Mandalorian, when Filoni and Favreau considered what to bring to life next. Filoni's passion for Ahsoka Tano, a character he co-created with George Lucas, led to the decision to explore bringing her into live action.

Rosario Dawson was chosen to play Ahsoka after Ashley Eckstein's acclaimed portrayal in the animated series. Dawson recounted the moment she learned she would play Ahsoka, mentioning the fan-driven push for her casting and her excitement upon seeing concept art of herself as the character.

Initially, the team treated Ahsoka's appearance as a one-off, unsure if they could sustain a long-term series. However, the positive fan reaction paved the way for Ahsoka's continued journey. Jon Favreau highlighted how the Ahsoka episodes connected with revisited characters like Bo-Katan, seamlessly continuing storylines from animation into live action.

For the team, Ahsoka's narrative structure mirrors that of "A New Hope," starting mid-journey with much history and future to explore. Rosario Dawson expressed her enthusiasm for delving deeper into Ahsoka's story, understanding her character's fears, anxieties, and growth.

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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 beyond that initial episode, the series has proven the worth of bringing her story to life on screen, fulfilling the vision that Dave Filoni and George Lucas started in animation.