The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 was packed with exciting teases for Season 2, including a first look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll, behind-the-scenes stories, and much more. To make sure you catch every detail, we've compiled all the highlights for you in one place.

While we're still waiting for footage and a release date for Season 2, the panel provided some insights into what fans can expect from the upcoming episodes. Let's dive right in.

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

At the Ahsoka panel, fans got their first glimpse of Rory McCann taking on the role of Baylan Skoll in Season 2. This role was previously played by Ray Stevenson, who passed away just three months before the series premiered. Stevenson's portrayal of Baylan was a standout for many viewers.

Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni spoke about the challenge of moving forward after Stevenson's passing, describing him as "the most beautiful person on screen and off." Filoni expressed confidence that Stevenson would approve of the direction they've taken with the character. He emphasized that Baylan is meant to be Ahsoka's counterpart in every way, and he's grateful for the iconic performance Stevenson delivered, which serves as a blueprint for McCann. Filoni also highlighted his appreciation for McCann's dedication to honoring Stevenson's legacy.

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

Hayden Christensen, who played a significant role in the first season of Ahsoka, will be returning as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2, as confirmed at Star Wars Celebration. While details about Anakin's role in the new episodes were scarce, Christensen shared his excitement about reprising the character.

"It was a dream to get to do," Christensen said. "The way they conceived how to do it was brilliant in getting to explore the World Between Worlds. I thought it was all really exciting."

Dave Filoni, clearly thrilled about working with Christensen again, humorously mentioned that he had to "invent entire dimensions to make it happen." For Christensen, returning as Anakin allowed him to explore a version of the character from the Clone Wars that he hadn't portrayed before.

"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

Although the panel didn't feature a traditional trailer, it did provide a glimpse into Season 2, confirming the return of beloved characters such as Sabine, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper. The teaser consisted of static images but was packed with exciting reveals.

The panel also revealed that Admiral Ackbar will play a significant role in the upcoming story, facing off against Grand Admiral Thrawn. Fans can also look forward to seeing 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, the team is actively re-writing episodes as they prepare to start production next week.

In addition to the Season 2 teases, the panel offered deeper insights into the making of Ahsoka, its inspirations, and more from the cast and crew. Dave Filoni shared his admiration for Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki, citing Princess Mononoke as his favorite film and revealing that it inspired Ahsoka's distinctive wolf fang cheek markings.

Joined by Jon Favreau and Rosario Dawson, Filoni discussed the origins of the Ahsoka series. The project began after Season 1 of The Mandalorian when Filoni and Favreau were brainstorming their next venture. Given Filoni's deep connection to Ahsoka Tano, whom he co-created with George Lucas, they decided to explore bringing her to live-action.

Rosario Dawson, who took over the role from Ashley Eckstein's animated portrayal, shared her excitement and gratitude for the opportunity. The decision to cast Dawson came after a significant online campaign supporting her for the role. When Dawson was offered the part, she was shown concept art and had to mute herself on the video call because she was so thrilled.

Initially, the team approached Ahsoka's live-action appearance as a one-off, unsure if they could sustain her story long-term. However, the positive fan reaction and the potential to continue Ahsoka's journey proved too compelling to ignore.

"When we started to move into the Ahsoka episodes with revisited characters like Bo-Katan, everything shifted toward a continuation of what Dave and George had done with animation while culminating storylines that had already been established," Favreau explained.

For the team, Ahsoka's narrative is akin to watching A New Hope, as it picks up in the middle of her journey, with much to explore before and after. Dawson is eager to delve deeper into Ahsoka's story and character development.

"I did not know where this character was going in live action," Dawson said. "I could understand her fear, anxiety, and stress and desire to help from afar. She wasn't willing to take over the mentor role herself, so it became a wonderful thing that I got to explore."

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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."