Dave Filoni Pays Emotional Tribute to Ray Stevenson

There has been huge news coming out of the Star Wars Celebration in Japan, and Ahsoka Season 2 is at the center of a lot of it. The new season will begin filming at the end of this month, according to the team, and despite the passing of actor Ray Stevenson (who plays Baylan Skoll), the character will return as a bigger part of the show. He will be played by Rory McCann. Creator Dave Filoni was joined by Jon Favreau and Rosario Dawson at the event to discuss Season 2, and Filoni took some time to share some emotional thoughts about Stevenson and his character.

“Yeah, so season two, it was obviously a big challenge in many ways,” began Filoni. “But it was a particularly big challenge, because losing Ray, who was just the greatest person and such a great spirit on the Jedi. I knew Ray from working in voice acting with him, and I just always instantly connected with him, and thought that when I make live action, I needed this guy to portray a powerful Jedi Knight that I’d had in mind, and he did not disappoint in any way. Ray was the most beautiful person on screen and off. He was wonderful to all of us. However big a loss you think he is, it’s bigger.

“And it was a challenge for me to even consider continuing for a while, but I have a great support group with Jon and Rosario, and I found the way, and I had Ray in my head, and am grateful for all the conversation with him about Baylan, so I understood what to do. It just took a while to get there, but I’m very confident now that Ray would be happy with the direction that we’ve chosen. I spoke to his family about it, because they were so important to Ray every day that we were working.”

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“And so we’ve continued, because the character was meant to be important,” added Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni. “He’s meant to be the parallel to Asoka in every way. If there’s a light, there’s a dark, and Baylan is representing a different journey for a Jedi that’s lost his way, as much as [Ahsoka] once kind of walked away from the order, so did he. And that parallel is something that must continue. And, yeah, I just kept hearing Ray, and I followed that. It led us to the idea of bringing someone else in to play the part, in essence. Because Ray had performed it so iconically, there’s a blueprint for what this character should be.” Filoni went on:

“And then I talked with Jon, and Jon and I decided that we just needed to find the right person that would not just understand the character, but also understand a bit of what Ray brought to it as well. It’s something imperceptible, something just in the eyes, really, to be honest. And I think we both felt very fortunate that things pointed towards, and we met, Rory McCann, and so Rory will be taking over the role of Baylan.”

“He takes it very seriously,” added Filoni about Rory McCann. “He takes it very to heart. Rory is a big man with a big heart, and he has such respect for Ray and what Ray brought to this that I know his whole focus is not letting Ray down and not letting you guys down, so he really feels it. So you’ll love him. We love him now, and I love what he’s taking on, because it’s a big deal. So the force is with him, and I know you guys will be too. So thank you.”

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Rosario Dawson Remembers Ray Stevenson

Ahsoka

Release Date

August 22, 2023

Network

Disney+

Rosario Dawson was at the event as well, and also paid tribute to Stevenson while supporting McCann. “I’m excited to bring on Rory. I worked with him 20 years ago in a movie. He’s a really, really lovely human being.” She continued:

“Ray had this indomitable spirit, just so intense and powerful and so kind, just such a laugh, such a joy to be around. And Rory has that really incredible balance as well, of this intensity and fierceness and just love and passion. And so, just doing the training, because we’ve been in training for the past few months, and it’s been really, really fun, and now we get to really get into it, and we’re all beyond excited.”

“We haven’t read all of the episodes, and yes, [Dave] does keep rewriting them, but oh my God, it’s so good,” added Dawson. “So I’m very excited for what the season brings, because we’ve laid so much groundwork in the previous season, but now it feels like we just get to play. It’s going to be amazing.” Ahsoka Season 2 begins filming in one week, at the end of April, according to Dawson. Watch this space for more information. In the meantime, watch Season 1 of Ahsoka on Disney+ through the link below:

Watch Ahsoka

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