Dave Filoni on Dropping Ray Stevenson, Recast...

When Ray Stevenson died, Ahsoka season two nearly died with it. Dave Filoni, the present’s creator, was at Star Wars Celebration Japan this weekend and did a panel about his Disney+ show. Alongside the best way, the subject of Stevenson’s passing got here up and Filoni obtained visibly emotional. Stevenson performed fallen Jedi Grasp Baylan Skoll, a personality that clearly had a huge role to play in the way forward for the sequence—nonetheless, Filoni revealed it went a lot deeper than that.

“Season two was clearly an enormous problem anyway, however it was a very large problem due to a dropping Ray,” Filoni stated throughout the panel. “He was simply the best particular person and such an incredible spirit on the present. I knew Ray from working in voice performing with him, I simply at all times immediately related with him and thought, ‘Once I make live-action, I want this man to painting a strong Jedi Knight which have had in thoughts.’ And he didn’t disappoint in any manner. Ray was probably the most lovely particular person on display and off, he was fantastic to all of us. Nonetheless large of a loss you suppose it’s, it’s larger.”

“It was a problem for me even to think about persevering with [Ahsoka] for some time,” he continued. “However I’ve an incredible assist group with Jon [Favreau] and Rosario [Dawson] and I discovered a manner. I had Ray in my head and I’m grateful for all of the conversations with him about Baylan. So I understood what to do, it simply took some time to get there. However I’m very assured now that Ray could be proud of the course that we’ve chosen.”

Season one ended with Baylan on a private quest to search out deeper that means within the Pressure, with Ahsoka and Sabine scorching on his tail. However in accordance with Filoni, the rationale for Baylan current is extra than simply as a foul man.

“The character was meant to be vital,” Filoni stated. “He’s meant to be the parallel to Ahsoka in each manner. If there’s a light-weight, there’s a darkish and Baylan is representing a unique journey of a Jedi that’s misplaced his manner. As a lot as [Ahsoka] represents one which’s sort of walked away from the Order, so did he. And that parallel is one thing that should proceed.”

Figuring out he needed to proceed the story to honor Stevenson, Filoni and government producer Jon Favreau knew there was just one choice: recast the character. And as previously reported, they discovered their man in Scottish actor Rory McCann. “In essence, as a result of Ray carried out it so iconically, there’s a blueprint for what this character ought to be,” Filoni stated. “After which I talked to Jon and Jon and I made a decision that we simply wanted to search out the precise particular person that may not simply perceive the character, but in addition perceive a little bit of what Ray dropped at it as properly. It’s one thing imperceptible. One thing simply within the eyes, to be sincere, and I believe we each felt very lucky that we met Rory McCann. So Rory shall be taking up the function.”

Filoni stated that McCann, greatest recognized for roles in Recreation of Thrones and Sizzling Fuzz, is coming in with one fundamental objective: make the legacy of Ray Stevenson reside on. “[Rory] takes it very significantly. He’s an enormous man with an enormous coronary heart, and he has such respect for Ray and what he dropped at this. I do know this sole focus isn’t letting Ray down and never letting you guys down. You’ll love them, and we love him and I like what he’s taking over. It’s an enormous deal, so the drive is with him.”

Ahsoka season two begins taking pictures by the top of April. No phrase on a launch date, however we’ve got to think about someday in late 2026.

Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to anticipate the most recent Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and the whole lot you want to learn about the way forward for Doctor Who.