They’re enhanced clone troopers. They’re more efficient than an army. But, they’re not so keen on obeying and taking orders. They’re the troopers of Clone Force 99, also known as The Bad Batch, and they finally got a full show trailer this week.
We’re a little over a month away from the premiere of The Bad Batch on Disney+, so thank the maker that Star Wars gifted us with a brand new trailer and poster for the show premiering on May 4.
Meet Hunter, Echo, Tech, Wrecker and Crosshair (all voiced by Dee Bradley Baker):
Clone Force 99 was introduced in The Clone Wars animated series, and the last time we saw the ragtag group of enhanced troopers, it was adding Echo to the fold and continuing to fight for the Republic in the war against the Separatists. In this spinoff series, the Clone Wars are over but a new war is brewing as the Galactic Empire is taking shape.
“You can either adapt and survive…or die with the past,” we hear Saw Gerrera say in the trailer. You’ll remember Gerrera as a veteran of the Clone Wars and the leader of a group of rebel extremists during the Rebels series. He also appeared in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, played by Forest Whitaker.
Breaking down The Bad Batch trailer
The new trailer opens with Clone Force 99 appearing before (future Grand Moff) Tarkin at a testing facility. Tarkin says he wants to test the efficiency of the group but notes the troopers “exhibit a concerning level of disobedience and disregard for orders.” The deadly droid-filled test is a breeze for Clone Force 99, who even ask for more.
The scene is a thrilling setup for the series, teasing the fascism of the growing Empire as well as the individuality and rebelliousness of the Bad Batch troopers.
"“Our squad’s nothing but trouble. But we get the job done,” Hunter says."
On what appears to be Kamino, Clone Force 99 meets a child, who then narrates an introduction to each of the clones: Scenes of Hunter, Echo, Tech, Wrecker and Crosshair doing their thing. “And it’s glorious mayhem,” StarWars.com said in a post.
Then, we hear Tarkin declare Clone Force 99 as enemies of the state, saying he wants them hunted down and destroyed. The Bad Batch is on its own, but the trailer shows the troopers do get to meet up with Guerrera (voiced by Andrew Kishino) and Fennec Shand (voiced by Ming-Na Wen, who also played her in The Mandalorian).
The trailer is heavy on the thrills and epic battles, teasing a full slate of episodes focusing on our favorite group of enhanced clones. It’s clear there’s going to be a lot of explosions and droid smashing in The Bad Batch, and we’re so on board.
The trailer wraps up with Hunter advising, “strap in, kid.” The Bad Batch is going to be one heck of a ride. And, Star Wars also unveiled a stunning new poster for the show:
The series has a special 70-minute premiere on “May the 4th,” a.k.a. Star Wars Day, with the second episode releasing on May 7. Then, subsequent episodes premiere on Fridays.
Who are you most excited to see in The Bad Batch? Let us know in the comments!