Game Of Thrones Star Is Baylan Skoll In Star Wars Ahsoka S2

Baylan Skoll, the nihilistic Jedi fallen to the dark side in Ahsoka season 1, has officially been recast following the death of original actor Ray Stevenson in 2023. Rory McCann, who played The Hound in Game of Thrones, will be stepping into the role for season 2 of the Star Wars show.

News of the casting decision comes by way of The InSneider (via Hollywood Reporter). Stevenson was a highlight of the show’s first season, presenting a noble but twisted former Jedi warrior who had turned Sith mercenary after surviving Order 66, the directive which killed most of the rest of Jedi order in the prequel trilogy. He clashes with Ahsoka in his hunt for a map that would lead him to the banished mastermind Grand Admiral Thrawn, providing a worthy and charismatic foil for her principles and worldviews in the process.

Tragically, Stevenson passed away from illness just prior to season 1 airing, leaving questions as to who would carry on the pivotal role heading into season 2. McCann, who became one of Game of Thrones’ emotional lynchpins across the hit HBO show’s eight seasons, seems like a natural choice to step into the character’s conflicted shoes. After all, he spent most of his time as The Hound being a noble-hearted asshole who was easy to root for even when he was being terrible.

It’s not clear when McCann, who recently appeared as head of the Praetorian guard in Gladiator 2, will join the rest of the cast in filming season 2. The show’s schedule hasn’t yet been confirmed as the slate of Star Wars movies and TV spin-offs remains mired in delays, cancellations, and shifting plans. Andor is the next Star Wars show set to come to streaming via Disney+ for its second and final season in April. Skeleton Crew also just recently wrapped up a pretty good first season. Beyond that, however, the rest of the upcoming Star Wars programing slate remains a mystery.

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