Image credit: HBO
Scottish actor Rory McCann has joined the cast of Ahsoka Season 2 as Baylan Skoll. The 55-year-old actor is most well-known for playing Sandor “The Hound” Clegane on the HBO series Game of Thrones. In the first season of Ahsoka, Baylan Skoll was played by Ray Stevenson, who passed away before Ashoka’s premiere.
Game of Thrones’ Rory McCann to replace Ray Stevenson in Ahsoka Season 2
Ray Stevenson played the role of Baylan Skoll in seven episodes of Ashoka Season 1. Stevenson died on May 21, 2023, at age 58. Ashoka debuted on Disney+ on August 22, 2023. Now, according to Jeff Sneider, Rory McCann will portray the character in Ashoka Season 2. The Hollywood Reporter has corroborated the reports about McCann’s casting.
Ashoka is part of the ever-expanding Star Wars franchise. It tells the story of Ashoka Tano, the former Padawan of Anakin Skywalker before he became Darth Vader. After the dissolution of the Galactic Empire, Ashoka and her allies search for Grand Admiral Thrawn to stop him from destroying the New Republic.
Other cast members of the show include Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano, Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla. Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader, Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn, and Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger also star in the series.
The first season of Ahsoka drew strong viewership numbers and mostly positive responses from the critics. Lucasfilm disclosed in January 2024 that Ahsoka Season 2 was in development.
Besides Game of Thrones, McCann has also appeared in The Book Group, Alexander, and Jumanji: The Next Level. He was reportedly a friend of Stevenson in real life. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, McCann initially became a painter and attended the Scottish School of Forestry near Inverness. He began his career as an actor in an uncredited role as Gordon in the 1999 drama movie Ratcatcher.
McCann appeared in all seasons of Game of Thrones except Season 5 and garnered widespread recognition because of his performance as the tortured warrior known as The Hound.
