Late ‘Star Wars’ Actor Ray Stevenson To Be Replaced In ‘Ahsoka’

The fans loved it Ray Stevenson and her role as Baylan Skoll in the “Star Wars” series “Ahsoka”, which is why Lucasfilm made the difficult decision to replace the actor before season 2.

After starring in numerous TV shows and films, the actor died in May 2023 after a brief illness.

In May 2023, Ray Stevenson died after a brief illness at just 58 years old.

The “Vikings” star previously played “Star Wars” character Gar Saxon in the animated series “Star Wars Rebels” and reprized his role in “The Clone Wars.”

He also played Volstagg in Marvel’s “Thor” films and Blackbeard in the Starz pirate series “Black Sails.”

He died in May 2023, just months before “Ahsoka” premiered on Disney+ in August 2023.

Just a month before his death, the “RRR” actor spoke with Collider during the Star Wars Celebration, held in London in April 2023. When asked which episodes from one to eight he was most excited for fans to see, he jokingly replied: “One to eight “.

“You can’t. It’s like splitting up a family and saying which child is your favorite child,” he joked. “It’s quite a journey.” When asked about the storylines created by “Ahsoka” creator Dave Filoni, Stevenson admitted he didn’t expect the “vision and complexity” given to the series.

Stevenson teased that there was a “scale” to “Ahsoka,” adding, “I remember walking on set going, ‘Who designed that?’ » » The actor, who also appeared in the series “Divergent,” also praised the costume design, meticulous construction and set design, saying the cast and crew all brought their “game A” to the series.

A few months before its release, Stevenson said the series would bring “lots of cliffhangers, surprises, journeys and unexpected events.” [Dave Filoni] I just kept going. Although he admitted it was “exhausting” filming some of the physical elements of the role, he always felt it was a “pleasure” to be a part of the franchise.

“These are character-driven fights,” he explained, praising the stunt coordinators working on the series. He said “the stakes are high” and these scenes will “literally” keep fans on the edge of their seats.

Although he admitted he didn’t know what to expect from a “Star Wars” series, he was excited to see the showrunner Dave Filoni and the wardrobe team incorporating her feedback after trying on her costume. He noted that their attention to detail was “breathtaking.”

He praised Filoni and his longtime collaborator Jon Favreau for their unique ability to bring out the best in their actors, calling their “humility of greatness” truly “empowering, wonderful and humbling.”

Asked about his passion for the show, Stevenson added: “There’s a real love there and it feels like now it resonates like a tsunami of love from the fans… it also comes from the actors and the team. We just want to give it to an audience that deserves it and give them everything and they just facilitate the best in you at work.

In January 2024, The Insider first broke the news that the Scottish actor Rory McCannwho is best known for playing The Hound in the hugely popular HBO series “Game of Thrones,” would replace the late actor as Baylan Skoll in the Disney+ series “Ahsoka.”

After leaving “Game of Thrones”, fans recently spotted McCann in “Gladiator II”, released in late 2024. He also starred in “Jumanji: The Next Level”, “Hot Fuzz”, “xXx: Return of Xander Cage ,” and the recent show “Knuckles,” currently available to stream on Paramount+.

The stars of the Disney+ series “Ahsoka” Rosario Dawson as the main character Ahsoka Tano, who teams up with her former apprentice, Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), in order to stop the Empire. Standing in their way are Baylan Skoll and his apprentice, Shin Hati, played by Ivanna Sakhno.

According to The Hollywood ReporterIt’s unclear when filming for “Ahsoka” season 2 will begin or who will direct. Dave Filoni will return as showrunner.