The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration Japan celebrated the first season but also gave us a glimpse at the future.
Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2
Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker for Ahsoka season two. Will we see Anakin as a force ghost on Peridea as that was hinted in the final moments of the season one finale? Perhaps we see more flashbacks with Anakin and Ahsoka from The Clone Wars. There’s also some fan theories that Hayden Christensen’s Anakin could even take on an entirely new role this season as well and it would relate to The Mortis Gods concept.
Rory McCann will take over as Baylan Skoll in Season 2
The story of Baylan Skoll is integral to Ahsoka as he is a parallel to her. That’s why Filoni went and recasted Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll after Ray Stevenson passed away.
“Season 2 was predictably a big challenge because of losing Ray,” said Filoni. “I knew Ray from working on voice acting with him. It was a challenge for me to consider continuing for a while. But I have a wonderful support group in Jon (Favreau) and Rosario (Dawson)”.
Filoni revealed that it took a while to decide what he was going to do with Baylan Skoll after the passing of Ray Stevenson.
“I found a way in — I had Ray in my head. I’m grateful for all my conversations with him about Baylan. So, I understood what to do, it just took a while to get there,” said Filoni. “I’m very confident now that Ray would be happy with the direction that we’ve chosen.”
Filoni also made the decision to recast with agreement from Ray Stevenson’s family.
“The character is meant to be the parallel to Ahsoka in every way. If there’s a light, there’s a dark, and Baylan is representing a different journey for a Jedi as you (Rosario) represent one who walked away from the (Jedi) order, so did he. That’s a parallel that must continue,” said Filoni.
The Mortis Gods will play a role in Season 2
Dave Filoni teased the Mortis Gods for Ahsoka season two. The concept was teased in the season one finale of Ahsoka with Baylan Skoll going up to a mountain that resembled The Mortis Gods.
Filoni discussed it more during the panel.
The Mortis Gods… that’s a thing. We’ll see. Watch Season 2 when it comes out, you’ll get a taste of it. You’ll get a taste of a lot of things. It’s a complicated thing. It was the weirdest day [when] George [Lucas] brought that stuff up. I don’t know where he was going with that one, and then I had to figure it out. It turned out to be a pretty compelling episode. It’s a big mystery: the Son’s there, the Father’s there, most of the Daughter’s there. …But we’ll see, we’ll get into it.
Admiral Ackbar will go head-to-head with Grand Admiral Thrawn
Another original trilogy character will be making his New Republic Era debut. Admiral Ackbar will return in Ahsoka season two, and he will be going head-to-head with Thrawn. This means Mon Mothma took Hera Syndulla’s testimony about Thrawn’s return to heart.
“It took all of my effort to resist writing the line — ‘It’s a trap!’ Because I’m like, I can’t do that, that would be so lame. Because this guy can’t always get into traps. You’d think he would see it this time,” joked Filoni during the panel about bringing in Admiral Ackbar.
Filoni then discussed why Thrawn is such a great threat for this season of Ahsoka and Star Wars in general. “He is the iconic villain. Thrawn doesn’t have the force, but holds his own against everybody,” said Filoni.
The retro teaser gives more details
The panel concluded with a retro look at Season 2 that was exclusive for attendees and not released to the public. Thankfully attendees have done an excellent job describing this teaser.
The AHSOKA panel concludes with a brilliant “retro look” ahead at Season 2.
An old fashioned narration (like an old movie trailer) plays over various pieces of concept art from Season 2. Dave Filoni says he was inspired to put this together as he watched a trailer for The… pic.twitter.com/ZQMNXkKfbY
— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) April 19, 2025
Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, Ezra Bridger, Chopper, and Zeb will all be a part of Ahsoka season two. The old time teaser also teased new foes, the Nightsisters, and even more Thrawn. It seems like Ahsoka season two is gearing up to be a great season of Star Wars.
Lucasfilm did not reveal a release date for Ahsoka season two. The general assumption is that season two will premiere on Disney+ sometime in 2026.
Stay tuned for coverage of Star Wars Celebration Japan from Boardwalk Times.
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Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
