The sad ing of Ray Stevenson means Rory McCann has been recast as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka season 2, and the actor has just dropped a tantalizing hint about lightsaber scenes at night. McCann is undoubtedly the perfect actor to play a recast Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka, not least because he was a close friend of Stevenson. He's also a fantasy alumni, hailing from Game of Thrones, where he became well-acquainted with swordfights.

Speaking to ComicBook.com, McCann has finally addressed his recast - and hinted at lightsaber combat scenes.

"I think it’s the right decision to carry on his storyline, not just cut it off. We’ve done it before with other things. I hope the fans embrace it and I’ll do my best. I’m just starting now, so I’m just trying to be in the right zone for doing it. It’s pretty bloody exciting. I mean, I being a kid with my dad, going to the first one probably in the late ’70s and ’80s. Now I’m training with a lightsaber at night, so it’s pretty exciting.

McCann's Game Of Thrones Background Will Massively Help With Ahsoka

The Lightsaber Combat Is Vitally Important

Baylan Skoll's duels with Ahsoka Tano were a highlight of season 1, not least because of lightsaber type with a greater weight behind it, and this has forced him to adapt Form V, Shien. Ahsoka herself uses a variant of Form V, and she has a history of struggling against it. As good a duelist as Ahsoka was, she was utterly wrong-footed by Baylan, and nearly died.

Ahsoka and Baylan had a brief rematch when she arrived on Peridea, and Anakin Skywalker's Padawan put up a better fight there - not least because she used both her lightsabers against Baylan, and worked hard to keep him from pressing his own physical advantages. But even then, Ahsoka was ultimately forced to flee a duel she likely would not have won. McCann's recast as Baylan Skoll surely means Ahsoka season 2 will see a rematch.

Our Take On Baylan Skoll's Recast

McCann Is The Perfect Choice

McCann's background should make for some thrilling duels. As he explained to ComicBook.com, "Thrones has really helped with that. Same kind of moves, same blocking. Doesn’t have the same sexy sound though. Oh, my God … Lightsabers are lighter, but having said that, the Thrones swords were stunt swords and you’ve got to pretend that they’re three times heavier than they are. But it’s all pretend, really. It’s all very exciting."

Granted, the mention of nighttime lightsaber duels will surely leave some concerned; Lucasfilm's Disney+ TV shows have often struggled with those. But problems seen with Obi-Wan Kenobi are really more a result of poor use of the Volume CGI technology, and Ahsoka season 2 features unusual location filming. There's no reason to worry because of McCann's comments.

Source: ComicBook.com