When Ray Stevenson died, Ahsoka Season two is almost dead with it. Dave Filoni, the creator of the show, was at Star wars Celebration of Japan this weekend and panel on his Disney +show. Along the way, the subject of Stevenson’s death appeared and Filoni has become visibly emotional. Stevenson played the Jedi master fell by Baylan Skoll, a character who clearly had a huge role to play in the future of the series – but that Filoni revealed that it was much further than that.
“Season two was obviously a big challenge anyway, but it was a particularly important challenge because of a losing department,” said Filoni during the panel. “He was just the biggest person and such a great spirit in the series. I knew that Ray working in his voice acting with him, I always connected instantly with him and I thought: “When I do a live action, I need this guy to represent a powerful Jedi knight who had in mind”. And he did not disappoint in any case.
“It was a challenge for me to consider continuing (Ahsoka) For a while, “he continued.” But I have an excellent support group with Jon (Favreau) and Rosario (Dawson) and I found a means. I had Ray in my head and I am grateful for all the conversations with him about Baylan. So I understood what to do, it took a while to get there. But I am very confident now that Ray would be satisfied with the management we have chosen. »»
The first season ended with Baylan in a personal quest to find a deeper meaning in force, with Ahsoka and Sabine Hot on its tail. But according to Filoni, the reason for existing Baylan is more than a villain.
“The character was supposed to be important,” said Filoni. “It is supposed to be the parallel to Ahsoka in all directions. If there is a light, there is a dark and Baylan represents a journey different from a Jedi which has lost its way. As long as (Ahsoka) represents one which is somehow distant from order, so it did it. And this parallel is something that must continue.”
Knowing that he wanted to continue the story to honor Stevenson, Filoni and the executive producer Jon Favreau knew that there was only one option: redesign the character. And as indicated above, they found their man in the Scottish actor Rory McCann. “In essence, because Ray has executed it so iconically, there is a plan for what this character should be,” said Filoni. “And then I spoke to Jon and Jon and I decided that we just needed to find the right person who would not only understand the character, but also to understand a little of what Ray also brought him. It is something imperceptible. Something just in the eyes, to be honest, and I think we both felt wealthy that we met Rory McCann.
Filoni said McCann, better known for his roles Game of Thrones And Hot Fuzzcame with a main objective: to bring the heritage of Ray Stevenson to life. “(Rory) takes it very seriously. He is a great man with a big heart, and he has such respect for Ray and what he has brought to that. I know that this only goal does not drop Ray and don’t let you fall.
Ahsoka Season two is starting to shoot at the end of April. No word on an release date, but we have to imagine at the end of 2026.
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