STAR WARS: AHSOKA Producer Discusses Ray Stevenson Saying His "Presence Loomed Large on Set"
Ray Stevenson’s death came as a shock to fans. He was such a great actor, and his upcoming role in Star Wars: Ahsoka was something that we’ve all been excited about! It looks like he plays such an awesome and badass character!
During a recent interview with Total Film Magazine, Ahsoka series executive producer Carrie Beck talks about working with Stevenson saying that his “presence loomed large on set," and she explained: "During the production, he had an infectious enthusiasm and gregariousness that he shared with his fellow cast and crew."
Beck also went on to praise Stevenson’s performance saying that he "brings a philosopher's depth to Baylan that pairs well with his imposing physical strength."
Stevenson takes on the role of a former Jedi warrior named Baylon. He survived Order 66 by fleeing into the Unknown Regions, and it’s believed that he’s an ally of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen). Baylon is also the master of Shin Hati, who is played by Ivanna Sakhno. Shin is said to wield the Dark Side of the Force and has a loose allegiance with the Night Sisters, who are the Witches of Dathomir that were explored in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. She’s been unleashed to take down Ahsoka.
Beck went on to talk about the untimely loss of the actor, saying: "It's still difficult to comprehend that he will not be here to experience the outcome of his hard work. At Star Wars Celebration this past April he was so energized by the outpouring of love from the Star Wars fandom. We will all miss him terribly."
It was at Star Wars Celebration that Stevenson talked about collaborating with David Filoni, saying: “And the thing about Dave that most people probably don't realize a problem with that with that overwhelming talent and skill and command of it is his uh insane ability to collaborate and give you the freedom to have your ideas brought on board and, and, and, and ask the questions and then if it's a good, that's, that's great. Let's, let's throw that in, let's do this.”
He added: "And, and that means even from the costume ideas to fighting to this, to certain lines and nothing's fixed in stone, he creates a, a river that flows and he's also free enough to see where that will, that will go. And for an actor, it's just like some, you, you imagine coming into something that's going to be just rigid, this is how it works, this is what we want, but it's not like that at all. So you actually really do feel that you are part of a family that's been, you are brought into this amazing family and everybody works together."
The show will pick up where Star Wars: Rebels left off, and the search for Ezra Bridger begins. The series is set after the fall of the Empire, Ahsoka “follows the former Jedi knight Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.”
That threat is Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen), and Ezra took off with him to an unknown location. Sabine (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) joins Ahsoka on her journey, and she is still very much dedicated to finding Ezra. They will be joined by Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), the droid, Chopper, and Zeb will also most likely return. The series also stars Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, Ivanna Sakhno, and Eman Esfandi as Ezra.
Ahsoka begins streaming on Disney+ on August 23, 2023.