The late actor Ray Stevenson was featured in the new Star Wars: Ahsoka trailer, which was released Wednesday, less than two months after his death at age 58.
While his exact cause of death remains unknown, the star was hospitalized for a mysterious illness on the island of Ischia prior to his unexpected passing on May 21.
In the preview of his highly anticipated Disney+ series, the artist, who plays Baylan Skoll, was seen wielding an orange-red crossguard lightsaber.
While the details of his character are well kept under wraps, he portrays the show’s main adversary, speculated to be a former Jedi warrior.
The upcoming series – which serves as a spin-off of The Mandalorian series – is part of the sci-fi fantasy franchise and follows Rosario Dawson as Jedi Padawan Ahsoka when it streams exclusively on Disney+ later this year.
Back on the big screen: The late actor Ray Stevenson was featured in the new Star Wars: Ahsoka trailer, released on Wednesday, less than two months after his death at age 58
Devastating: While his exact cause of death remains unknown, the star was hospitalized for a mysterious illness on the island of Ischia, prior to his unexpected passing on May 21.
Set after the fall of the Empire, Star Wars: Ahsoka follows former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a fragile galaxy.
In the trailer, the character can be heard declaring, “Things have changed. I began to hear whispers of Thrawn’s return as heir to the realm. We must prepare for the worst. The Jedi fell long ago. There aren’t many left.’
The upcoming fantasy series also stars Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbeth, David Tennant as Huyang, Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn and Eman Esfandi as Ezra. bridger.
The news comes just weeks after Dawson explained that things really “clicked” for her on set when she realized her character had “no hesitation” during her physical training with the famed lightsaber.
“She’s ambidextrous, that was just a lot to own. She is so fierce from the start that it was never a question of her ability. She meets every match, so keep going. There’s no hesitation whatsoever on her part, and that’s really different from someone learning martial arts in their 40s and trying to protect their face,” she shared. Weekly entertainment.
Dawson continued, “There was definitely a moment a few months into the workout where I felt it land in my body in a way. I remember when it clicked I felt really grounded in her and some things started to feel more familiar and seamless. Then I really felt like I was trapped in Ahsoka.’
Lucasfilm’s Ahsoka launches exclusively on Disney+ on August 23.
Stevenson’s death came just days before his 59th birthday.
It’s highly anticipated: The upcoming series – which serves as a spin-off of The Mandalorian series – is part of the sci-fi fantasy franchise and will follow Rosario Dawson as Jedi Padawan Ahsoka when it launches exclusively later this year. Disney+ is streaming
Talented Cast: The upcoming fantasy series also stars Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla, Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati, Diana Lee Inosanto as Morgan Elsbeth, David Tennant as Huyang, Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn and Eman Esfandi appearing as Ezra Bridger
Coming Soon: Lucasfilm’s Ahsoka launches exclusively on Disney+ on August 23
Intense: Set after the fall of the Empire, Star Wars: Ahsoka follows former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a fragile galaxy
In the trailer, the character can be heard declaring, “Things have changed. I began to hear whispers of Thrawn’s return as heir to the realm. We must prepare for the worst. The Jedi fell long ago. There aren’t many left’
The Northern Irish thespian is best known for starring in a range of action and fantasy films, including Marvel’s Thor movies, Punisher: War Zone, and King Arthur.
While no cause of death has been revealed, Italian newspaper Republica reported at the time that the actor felt unwell and went to hospital a few days before his death.
It is believed he worked on the film Cassino in Ischia where he would play a disgraced action star struggling to revive his career and the consequences of leaving his family for fame.
The actor was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland on May 25, 1964, the second of three sons of a Royal Air Force pilot and his wife.
The family moved to England when he was eight.
As an adult, he enrolled at the Bristol Old Vic Theater School, graduating at the age of 29.
After guest appearances on several TV shows and TV movies, Ray made his big screen debut in 1998’s The Theory of Flight, as a gigolo, starring Kenneth Branagh and Helena Bonham Carter.
He got steady work and went on to appear in several British TV series.
The six-foot-tall actor’s commanding presence landed him the role of Dagonet in 2004’s King Arthur, opposite another up-and-coming actor, Clive Owen.
He then began to land more action roles, playing a burly soldier with a heart of gold in the Emmy-winning miniseries Rome, and later as action anti-hero Frank Castle in Punisher: War Zone.
Gone too fast: The Northern Irish thespian is best known for starring in a range of action and fantasy films, including Marvel’s Thor films, Punisher: War Zone and King Arthur (pictured in London in April 2023)
In a 2008 interview with Collidersaid the classically trained actor is not familiar with the comic the character is based on.
“To be honest, when I first read it I thought, ‘This is just extremely violent. What the hell is this?'”
Referring to the character, he explained, “You don’t want to be Frank. It’s strange to have the kind of lead or hero of a movie that you don’t really want to be. That intrigued me.’
The actor was adamant that he didn’t want fans to impersonate the character and insisted this was made clear in the script.
“He’s in such a dark place. He may have made peace with that, but there is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is no redemption for Frank. That’s very intriguing.’
The vivacious star got to show his tough yet loyal side in Thor as a Volstag, a member of the Warriors Three, donning a fat suit for the role.
“I’m Volstag and what you see is what you get,” he told Collider in 2010.
He’s a bon vivant, bon vivant, bon vivant. He’s a god, which helps. He is full of life.
“He has a wonderful innocence. explained the star, “and the steadfast loyalty of a large Saint Bernard dog. He came running through the snow with a keg of beer to save your life. You know, he has a twinkle in his eye. He’s always up for a party. Yes, that’s about it. He is an all round good egg. Big egg, but a good egg.’
Ray went on to reprise the role in Thor: The Dark World and in Thor: Ragnarok.
The versatile star joined the Star Wars family after providing the voice of Gar Saxon in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.