The late Ray Stevenson played a pivotal role in influencing a significant change made to Baylan Skoll within the Star Wars Universe. Lucasfilm recently unveiled that the Thor: Ragnarok actor played a role in shaping a distinctive aspect of his character's unusual lightsaber, further deepening the intrigue surrounding Baylan's presence in Ahsoka.
One of the first things that fans noticed about the new villains in Ahsoka is the strange hue of their weapons. Early teasers and trailers revealed both Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati wield orange lightsabers, a first in the Star Wars Universe. Interestingly, the series' prop master Josh Roth confirmed that Stevenson wanted to further personalize his character's weapon by suggesting an unexpected change.
During the Walt Disney Studios Showcase at Destination D23, Roth confirmed that Stevenson had a strong desire to make his lightsaber truly unique (via X). He confirmed that after the initial design by Lucasfilm's Doug Chiang, their team took the design and worked on it to ensure it could function effectively as a prop and accommodate Stevenson's vision for the weapon. Roth stated that Stevenson's creative input involved the weapon's pommel.
Now this doesn't necessarily tell us a lot considering that a sword's pommel is the lower end of the hilt and does not seem to have an important function. But considering that Baylan's lightsaber has a longer hilt similar to a claymore, Stevenson's suggestion may have helped to give the weapon a better counterweight so it is easier to wield. Whether he was aiming for a cool design or making the lightsaber easier to use, Stevenson certainly made his character's lightsaber unique in the Star Wars Universe.
Ray Stevenson's portrayal of the late character exudes a captivating blend of presence and restraint, captivating audiences. Skoll's enigmatic background as a former Jedi Knight, his intricate relationship with his apprentice, and his lack of a clear Sith allegiance have sparked curiosity among fans.
Notably, Baylan Skoll's unique characteristic, his orange-red lightsaber blade, serves as a striking departure from the conventional villainy associated with Sith. Fans eagerly await more revelations about this enigmatic character. Baylan returns in Ahsoka Episode 5, which will stream on Disney+ on September 12, 2023. The episode is also set for a limited theatrical release on the same day.
