During the final season of
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
, fans were introduced to Clone Force 99, otherwise known as “The Bad Batch.” Each member of this experimental group of clone troopers possesses their own unique skill, and the last time fans saw this crew, Clone Trooper Echo had joined their ranks.
But a lot has happened since then considering the Republic has fallen, Anakin is now Darth Vader, and the galaxy is at the mercy of the now Emperor Palpatine.
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Lucasfilm’s newest animated series
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
debuting on Disney+ on May the 4th will tell how Clone Force 99 navigated the early days of the Galactic Empire.
But in light of the cameo fest that was
The Mandalorian
Season 2, and Lucasfilm’s intent to further interweave their characters and stories, what characters from that galaxy far, far away can audiences expect to see alongside The Bad Batch?
THESE ARE THE CHOSEN ONES
Several character cameos have been already been confirmed due to trailers for the series.
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Fennec Shand
Star Wars
Fennec Shand
, who was Boba Fett’s partner in
The Mandalorian
, appeared in
The Bad Batch
’s debut trailer. Since this series grapples with the fallout of Order 66, perhaps bounty hunters are high in demand?
Her appearance may also serve a different purpose, providing context to her character before
The Book of Boba Fett
debuts on Disney+ this December.
Grand Moff Tarkin
Star Wars
Grand Moff Tarkin
from
Rogue One
and
A New Hope
who oversaw the construction of the Death Star and worked with Darth Vader has appeared in both trailers for the series.
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Perhaps audiences will see more of Vader and Tarkin working together, especially since Tarkin already worked with Anakin in
Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Captain Rex
Star Wars
The last time viewers saw
Rex
, he was with Ahsoka following the events of Order 66.
Rex appears years later in
Star Wars Rebels
,
living in an old AT-TE on Seelos alongside other clones. But since he’s back for
The Bad Batch
, fans may finally learn how he copes with what’s happened to his brothers, Anakin, and the Republic, as well as how he winds up on Seelos.
ADVERTISEMENT
Saw Gerrera
Star Wars
This complicated character popped up in
The Clone Wars
,
Star Wars Rebels
, and
Rogue One
. Best guess is that
Saw Gerrera
will be used to further muddy the morality and convictions of the clones while continuing to lay the groundwork for his own role in
Rogue One
.
WE MEET AGAIN, AT LAST
Since Lucasfilm has already revealed a slate of characters, it’s likely the studio has a few surprise cameos up their sleeve. Here’s a look at whom they might be.
ADVERTISEMENT
Darth Vader/Anakin
Star Wars
In a series about the beginning of the Empire with Tarkin and the Emperor, there’s little doubt Vader won’t make a cameo. To date, fans have only seen glimpses of Vader’s early years. Seeing Anakin find his way as Vader is something most have wanted for some time.
Ahsoka Tano
Star Wars
If Captain Rex is part of
The Bad Batch
,
Ahsoka
seems like a given.
If so, this could be interesting considering Ahsoka is receiving
her own live-action Disney+ series
. Perhaps fans will learn how she becomes Fulcrum in
Star Wars Rebels
?
ADVERTISEMENT
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Star Wars
Hello, there!
So, yes, technically
Obi-Wan
should be hiding out on Tatooine. But that doesn’t mean Clone Force 99 or Rex won’t have dealings with him.
Also, if the name of the game is indeed connectivity, it will be interesting to see if
The Bad Batch
helps lay the groundwork for the upcoming
Kenobi
series coming to Disney+
.
ADVERTISEMENT
Maul
Star Wars
Maul
has a habit of popping up in Star Wars projects A LOT. So it’s likely fans we’ll see Maul in his element, manipulating the chaos unleashed on the galaxy and building Crimson Dawn.
Bo-Katan Kryze
Star Wars
At the end of
The Clone Wars
, Bo-Katan enlisted the help of the Republic in taking back Mandalore from Maul. Now that the Republic has been replaced by the Empire, there’s an abundance of storytelling potential for this Mandalorian that may contribute to where audiences find her in
The Mandalorian
series.
ADVERTISEMENT
NEVER TELL ME THE ODDS
Galen Erso
Star Wars
Jyn Erso’s father, Galen Erso was an Imperial scientist before he and his wife went into hiding on Lah’mu. Considering both Tarkin and Saw Gerrera are in
The Bad Batch
, it would be interesting to see a conflicted Galen Erso playing some sort of role in the series.
Director Krennic
Star Wars
Could
The Bad Batch
be a sort of
Rogue One
reunion prequel? Maybe.
Whether Galen Erso appears or not, a Krennic cameo is definitely possible. It’s likely former Republic officials will be eagerly climbing the ladder to establish positions in this new Empire. And let’s be honest, who’s more ambitious than Krennic?
ADVERTISEMENT
Yoda
Star Wars
Yes,
Yoda
should be hiding out on Dagobah. But there’s no reason why that couldn’t play into the show, and wouldn’t every Star Wars fan enjoy seeing it?
After all, Yoda was pivotal in introducing the concept of individuality to the clones. If
The Bad Batch
is an extension of
The Clone Wars
and Yoda does not make an appearance, the Jedi Master’s presence would be dearly missed.
The thing is, voice actor Tom Kane who voiced Yoda for
The Clone Wars
suffered a stroke in December 2020 that affected his speech.
ADVERTISEMENT
If Yoda is indeed part of this new series, it’s possible Kane had recorded the Jedi Master’s dialogue prior to his stroke if the project was far enough along and if COVID-19 didn’t delay production.
Cassian Andor
Star Wars
The thing is, there’s a little less than two decades spanning between
Revenge of the Sith
and
Rogue One
. So Cassian is probably a child at this point.
But he did say in
Rogue One
that he’s been in the fight since he was six years old, didn’t he? Maybe audiences will see his parents or a young version of his character in the series, and perhaps that may provide background for the upcoming
Andor
Disney+
series
.
ADVERTISEMENT
Boba Fett
Star Wars
If Lucasfilm does indeed plan to interweave characters about to receive their own series into
The Bad Batch
, why not
Boba Fett
? He did appear in
The Clone Wars
as a kid, after all.
Who would complain seeing him make a name for himself in
The Bad Batch
, as well as gaining Vader’s attention and setting in motion the events of
The Empire Strikes Back
?
Also, since Fennec Shand is in the immanent Disney+ series, and with
The Book of Boba Fett
coming in December, why not promote the character where now?
ADVERTISEMENT
Kanan Jarrus
Star Wars
Yes, this may be a stretch, but fans did see a young version of
Rebels
character
Kanan
(a.k.a Caleb Dume) alongside his master Depa Billaba in the final season of
The Clone Wars
.
If
The Bad Batch
involves hunting down any surviving Jedi, as Vader did for years, young Kanan can easily cameo.
Bail Organa & Mon Mothma
Star Wars
The foundation for the Rebel Alliance was laid at the end of
Revenge of the Sith
. As the Emperor tightens his grip on the galaxy, surely Bail Organa and Mon Mothma will be behind-the-scenes finding allies and making plans.
ADVERTISEMENT
Which Star Wars characters appear in
The Bad Batch
depend on two things: the story being told and the
studio’s commitment to replicating the MCU’s overlapping universe
.
While
The Clone Wars
was an animated series, it explored serious, complex themes like free will, loyalty, and the mental toll of warfare against the backdrop of a galactic war.
Will
The Bad Batch
continue exploring these topics, even though the war is over, or do Filoni and Co. have new themes in mind? Naturally, that will directly impact the show’s supporting cast and who fans see in the upcoming series.
ADVERTISEMENT
Secondly, is Lucasfilm committed to connecting their stories and characters through in their new animated series?
For some studios, the answer would be no. But Lucasfilm has already brought animated characters to live-action through
The Mandalorian
. It wouldn’t be a stretch to revisit them through the medium of animation, especially if their appearances during this critical time in the galaxy’s history will enhance their individual stories and promote their own future Disney+ series.
While Star Wars films haven’t always succeeded with the fan base, the studio’s track record of animation has. The question is how Lucasfilm’s success on Disney+ and their new storytelling direction will lend itself to the studio’s great tradition of animation.
ADVERTISEMENT
During the final season of
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
, fans were introduced to Clone Force 99, otherwise known as “The Bad Batch.” Each member of this experimental group of clone troopers possesses their own unique skill, and the last time fans saw this crew, Clone Trooper Echo had joined their ranks.
But a lot has happened since then considering the Republic has fallen, Anakin is now Darth Vader, and the galaxy is at the mercy of the now Emperor Palpatine.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lucasfilm’s newest animated series
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
debuting on Disney+ on May the 4th will tell how Clone Force 99 navigated the early days of the Galactic Empire.
But in light of the cameo fest that was
The Mandalorian
Season 2, and Lucasfilm’s intent to further interweave their characters and stories, what characters from that galaxy far, far away can audiences expect to see alongside The Bad Batch?
Several character cameos have been already been confirmed due to trailers for the series.
Fennec Shand
Fennec Shand
, who was Boba Fett’s partner in
The Mandalorian
, appeared in
The Bad Batch
’s debut trailer. Since this series grapples with the fallout of Order 66, perhaps bounty hunters are high in demand?
Her appearance may also serve a different purpose, providing context to her character before
The Book of Boba Fett
debuts on Disney+ this December.
Grand Moff Tarkin
Grand Moff Tarkin
from
Rogue One
and
A New Hope
who oversaw the construction of the Death Star and worked with Darth Vader has appeared in both trailers for the series.
Perhaps audiences will see more of Vader and Tarkin working together, especially since Tarkin already worked with Anakin in
Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Captain Rex
The last time viewers saw
Rex
, he was with Ahsoka following the events of Order 66.
Rex appears years later in
Star Wars Rebels
,
living in an old AT-TE on Seelos alongside other clones. But since he’s back for
The Bad Batch
, fans may finally learn how he copes with what’s happened to his brothers, Anakin, and the Republic, as well as how he winds up on Seelos.
Saw Gerrera
This complicated character popped up in
The Clone Wars
,
Star Wars Rebels
, and
Rogue One
. Best guess is that
Saw Gerrera
will be used to further muddy the morality and convictions of the clones while continuing to lay the groundwork for his own role in
Rogue One
.
Since Lucasfilm has already revealed a slate of characters, it’s likely the studio has a few surprise cameos up their sleeve. Here’s a look at whom they might be.
Darth Vader/Anakin
In a series about the beginning of the Empire with Tarkin and the Emperor, there’s little doubt Vader won’t make a cameo. To date, fans have only seen glimpses of Vader’s early years. Seeing Anakin find his way as Vader is something most have wanted for some time.
Ahsoka Tano
If Captain Rex is part of
The Bad Batch
,
Ahsoka
seems like a given.
If so, this could be interesting considering Ahsoka is receiving
her own live-action Disney+ series
. Perhaps fans will learn how she becomes Fulcrum in
Star Wars Rebels
?
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Hello, there!
So, yes, technically
Obi-Wan
should be hiding out on Tatooine. But that doesn’t mean Clone Force 99 or Rex won’t have dealings with him.
Also, if the name of the game is indeed connectivity, it will be interesting to see if
The Bad Batch
helps lay the groundwork for the upcoming
Kenobi
series coming to Disney+
.
Maul
Maul
has a habit of popping up in Star Wars projects A LOT. So it’s likely fans we’ll see Maul in his element, manipulating the chaos unleashed on the galaxy and building Crimson Dawn.
Bo-Katan Kryze
At the end of
The Clone Wars
, Bo-Katan enlisted the help of the Republic in taking back Mandalore from Maul. Now that the Republic has been replaced by the Empire, there’s an abundance of storytelling potential for this Mandalorian that may contribute to where audiences find her in
The Mandalorian
series.
Galen Erso
Jyn Erso’s father, Galen Erso was an Imperial scientist before he and his wife went into hiding on Lah’mu. Considering both Tarkin and Saw Gerrera are in
The Bad Batch
, it would be interesting to see a conflicted Galen Erso playing some sort of role in the series.
Director Krennic
Could
The Bad Batch
be a sort of
Rogue One
reunion prequel? Maybe.
Whether Galen Erso appears or not, a Krennic cameo is definitely possible. It’s likely former Republic officials will be eagerly climbing the ladder to establish positions in this new Empire. And let’s be honest, who’s more ambitious than Krennic?
Yoda
Yes,
Yoda
should be hiding out on Dagobah. But there’s no reason why that couldn’t play into the show, and wouldn’t every Star Wars fan enjoy seeing it?
After all, Yoda was pivotal in introducing the concept of individuality to the clones. If
The Bad Batch
is an extension of
The Clone Wars
and Yoda does not make an appearance, the Jedi Master’s presence would be dearly missed.
The thing is, voice actor Tom Kane who voiced Yoda for
The Clone Wars
suffered a stroke in December 2020 that affected his speech.
If Yoda is indeed part of this new series, it’s possible Kane had recorded the Jedi Master’s dialogue prior to his stroke if the project was far enough along and if COVID-19 didn’t delay production.
Cassian Andor
The thing is, there’s a little less than two decades spanning between
Revenge of the Sith
and
Rogue One
. So Cassian is probably a child at this point.
But he did say in
Rogue One
that he’s been in the fight since he was six years old, didn’t he? Maybe audiences will see his parents or a young version of his character in the series, and perhaps that may provide background for the upcoming
Andor
Disney+
series
.
Boba Fett
If Lucasfilm does indeed plan to interweave characters about to receive their own series into
The Bad Batch
, why not
Boba Fett
? He did appear in
The Clone Wars
as a kid, after all.
Who would complain seeing him make a name for himself in
The Bad Batch
, as well as gaining Vader’s attention and setting in motion the events of
The Empire Strikes Back
?
Also, since Fennec Shand is in the immanent Disney+ series, and with
The Book of Boba Fett
coming in December, why not promote the character where now?
Kanan Jarrus
Yes, this may be a stretch, but fans did see a young version of
Rebels
character
Kanan
(a.k.a Caleb Dume) alongside his master Depa Billaba in the final season of
The Clone Wars
.
If
The Bad Batch
involves hunting down any surviving Jedi, as Vader did for years, young Kanan can easily cameo.
Bail Organa & Mon Mothma
The foundation for the Rebel Alliance was laid at the end of
Revenge of the Sith
. As the Emperor tightens his grip on the galaxy, surely Bail Organa and Mon Mothma will be behind-the-scenes finding allies and making plans.
Which Star Wars characters appear in
The Bad Batch
depend on two things: the story being told and the
studio’s commitment to replicating the MCU’s overlapping universe
.
While
The Clone Wars
was an animated series, it explored serious, complex themes like free will, loyalty, and the mental toll of warfare against the backdrop of a galactic war.
Will
The Bad Batch
continue exploring these topics, even though the war is over, or do Filoni and Co. have new themes in mind? Naturally, that will directly impact the show’s supporting cast and who fans see in the upcoming series.
Secondly, is Lucasfilm committed to connecting their stories and characters through in their new animated series?
For some studios, the answer would be no. But Lucasfilm has already brought animated characters to live-action through
The Mandalorian
. It wouldn’t be a stretch to revisit them through the medium of animation, especially if their appearances during this critical time in the galaxy’s history will enhance their individual stories and promote their own future Disney+ series.
While Star Wars films haven’t always succeeded with the fan base, the studio’s track record of animation has. The question is how Lucasfilm’s success on Disney+ and their new storytelling direction will lend itself to the studio’s great tradition of animation.
