Ray Stevenson will not be forgotten for his multifaceted roles in film, most recently as Baylan Skoll on Disney Plus' Ahsoka. Sure, the character was a bloodlusting mercenary, but give him a minute. He was a general, so he knew how to command a legion. He was also a knight, so he knew what it meant to win the honorifics from the upper-crust masters.
Few anti-heroes have needed the neon sign glaring "Hey, I'm an anti-hero" less than Ray Stevenson. He was a perfect fit for Ahsoka. So, when the Northern Irish actor died unexpectedly in May 2023, a crater in the universe was left in his place.
Disney and Lucasfilm had yet to reveal if the character would be recast for the second season of the Star Wars show, but since then there have been countless fancasts as fans envisioned who could be a worthy successor to Stevenson's immortal performance (see here, here, and here).
While several of those fancasts had stellar selections, fantasy aficionados needn't look far. A new actor for the role has been found says an exclusive by insider Jeff Sneider. Yes, Game of Thrones star - and Stevenson's friend - Rory McCann is now reportedly set to play the role in Ahsoka season 2.
Rory McCann enters the Ahsoka fray
Think about how Ray Stevenson played Baylen Skoll and what it will take to convincingly win this role:
- Enigmatic purpose to do anything
- Walks to the beat of his own drummer
- Doesn't give two turds what anyone has to say about him
- But, say it too much and you'll catch his wrath
Sounds just like the complex character we met in Ahsoka, right? Well, it also sounds just like The Hound from HBO's acclaimed fantasy series Game of Thrones. As Sandor Clegane, Rory McCann's depth of visceral emotions brought a cavernous amount of range to share his thoughts throughout Westeros. The man was a younger brother of Ser Gregor Clegane and the personal bodyguard of Prince Joffrey Baratheon. And if you had to protect that prepubescent ball of hate, you would discover some complex emotions about yourself, too.
Rory McCann is a premiere selection to continue the beloved anti-hero role of Baylen Skoll in Ahsoka season 2. He just finished being in Gladiator II as General Tegula, so you know he's hankering for another period piece that doesn't suck.
It's sad to move on from a man who made this crucial role in the Force, but the casting of Rory McCann to fill his friend Ray Stevenson's sizable shoes is a chef's kiss. May the Force be With Him.