A Galaxy Of Character Possibilities For 'The Bad Batch'
The Disney+ original animated Star Wars series, The Bad Batch, is set to premiere on this upcoming May The Fourth. It will feature a group of renegade clone troopers, Clone Force 99 (colloquially known as "The Bad Batch"), Hunter, Echo, Crosshair, Tech, and Wrecker, who possess "useful mutations." Last seen toward the end of The Clone Wars fighting with the other clones and Jedi, they now appear to be on the lam from the newly established Empire that apparently seeks to eliminate them.
With the series set following Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and the immediate aftermath of The Clone Wars, there is the potential for the appearance of several characters established in the movies and throughout Star Wars media of the past few years. Here is a list of characters, broken down by characters who have already been confirmed for the series based on the trailers, others whom are most likely to appear in the series, and, finally, some "dark horse" characters who could show up in the upcoming limited series.
Characters Confirmed for the Series
Topping this list is, of course, Clone Force 99. After all, the show is named for them and specifically follows their adventures and exploits. The trailers have revealed that Wilhuff Tarkin, now an Admiral, will be appearing in the series. Bounty hunter Fennec Shand, first introduced in The Mandalorian, has already been seen in the trailers as well, possibly hired to hunt down the Bad Batch, or possibly helping them. Emperor Palpatine is also seen in the trailer as a hologram, giving his speech from Revenge of the Sith, declaring the establishment of his Empire. Although he likely doesn't get out much after establishing his Empire (he's got a galaxy to run, after all), it doesn't seem inconceivable that he might put in an indirect appearance or two throughout the series, even if it's from a secure location on Coruscant.
There is a new character, Omega, confirmed for the series, whom some speculate could possibly the last clone created from the Jango Fett template. Omega escapes with our heroes. And speaking of Kamino, Lamu Su, one of the cloners from Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, appears in the trailer. The clone Captain Rex and Saw Gerrera, the extremist rebel leader of The Partisans first seen in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, are also seen in the trailer.
Characters Likely to Appear
Given that the show is set in the immediate aftermath of the Clone Wars, it is not too hard to imagine that we see some of the other well-known clone characters from The Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith, such as Commander Cody and other clones who, unfortunately, succumbed to Palpatine's Order 66 command to exterminate their Jedi generals. They would be loyal to the Empire. During this time period, of course, the Empire is starting to replace their ranks of troops with non-clone Stormtroopers, but it is likely that it is not all done at once.
As Rex is confirmed for the series, we might also see other non-Imperial allied clone characters such as Wolffe and Gregor, who manage to get rid of their chips and might show up to aid our heroes. Given Fennec Shand's confirmed involvement, it's not hard to imagine that any number of previously introduced bounty hunters such as Cad Bane, Aurra Sing, or even a young Boba Fett might potentially show up in the series, looking for Clone Force 99.
"Dark Horse" Characters I Would Love To See
There is literally a whole galaxy's worth of fan favorites alive and well during this time period who could potentially show up in the series. However, they may be less likely to make an actual appearance. Darth Vader, the newly minted Dark Lord of the Sith, seems the most likely of these candidates to make an appearance, as he might be tasked with helping hunt down the Bad Batch. After all, he does make a surprise appearance at the end of The Clone Wars, and he has shown up in Rebels, so why not continue the trend with this series? He might be eager to prove himself to his master by hunting down enemies and other rogue elements of the former Republic.
Ahsoka Tano could possibly show up, especially since Rex will be showing up in the series, and both of them escaped together at the end of The Clone Wars. Some other surviving Jedi characters whose fates we do not know might show up, such as Barriss Offee or Quinlan Vos. Or, for a real dark horse candidate, how about Cal Kestis from the Jedi: Fallen Order video game? Surviving Force-sensitive characters need not be limited to Jedi, of course. Maul remains alive and well during this time period and is building up his Crimson Dawn syndicate.
It is not impossible for movie characters such as C-3PO or R2-D2 to pop-up, especially if Bail Organa shows up at some point. And if he shows up, is a baby Leia appearance plausible, especially if the Bad Batch goes to Alderaan for some reason? Or what about the mighty Wookiee, Chewbacca? Hondo Ohnoka, a popular rogue character from both The Clone Wars, Rebels, and even from the Disney's Galaxy's Edge Smuggler's Run attraction, could be a likely character to put in an appearance.
Source(s): Screen Rant