The Writer’s Strike of 2023 may have postponed some of our favorite shows and movies, but even the hard-fought and justified push for higher wages can’t stop the boys (and girl) of Star Wars: The Bad Batch.
The dysfunctional clones captured fan attention with their debut in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, nearly dethroning the beloved Captain Rex with the premier of their own animated series in 2021. Disney has finally announced the official release date for season 3: Feb. 24, 2024.
The Bad Batch season 3 official trailer
While the trailer sent shivers down fans’ spines, the absolute show-stealer was the return of Asajj Ventress. Some fans were frustrated by Disney’s apparent retconning of the character’s ending in The Dark Disciple novel, but the overwhelming response has been excitement.
The Bad Batch release date
Good news, according to head writer Jennifer Corbett, the season’s final mix session was completed as of December 1. Walt Disney Company has since released a list of all the projects we can anticipate in the coming year, and The Bad Batch will be arriving on February 21, 2024. With the official release date, Disney also released the season’s synopsis:
In the epic final season of “Star Wars: The Bad Batch,” the Batch will have their limits tested in the fight to reunite with Omega as she faces challenges of her own inside a remote Imperial science lab. With the group fractured and facing threats from all directions, they will have to seek out unexpected allies, embark on dangerous missions, and muster everything they have learned to free themselves from the Empire.
The series will drop episodes weekly starting with a special 3-episode premiere on the 21st. See the below for the full release schedule.
- 2/21: Episodes 1,2, and 3 “Confined,” “Paths Unknown,” and “Shadows of Tantiss”
- 2/28: Episode 4 “A Different Approach”
- 3/06: Episode 5 “The Return”
- 3/13: Episodes 6 and 7 “Infiltration” and “Extraction”
- 3/20: Episode 8 “Bad Territory”
- 3/27: Episode 9 “The Harbinger”
- 4/03: Episodes 10 and 11″Identity Crisis” and “Point of No Return”
- 4/10: Episode 12 “Juggernaut”
- 4/17: Episode 13 “Into the Breach”
- 4/24: Episode 14 “Flash Strike”
- 5/01: Episode 15 “The Cavalry Has Arrived”
The Bad Batch returning cast
It goes without saying that Dee Bradley Baker will return to voice the remaining members of the Bad Batch. Michelle Ang is set to reprise her role as Omega, and Ben Diskin will return as AZI. It’s hard to know who all might make an appearance, but after season 2’s end, it’s safe to assume we’ll see Admiral Tarkin (Steven Stanton), Cid (Rhea Pearlman), and Vice Admiral Rampart (Noshir Dalal) at least once this season. Wanda Skykes will also return as the intrepid pirate adventurer, Phee Genoa.
The trailer indicated that Fennec Shand and the former Jedi apprentice Caleb Dume will join the Bad Batch in their mission to rescue Omega from the hands of the empire. Ming Na-Wen is set to reprise her role as the dangerous bounty hunter. Freddie Prinze Jr. said last year that he had no intention of returning as Kanan Jarrus saying, “I feel like every time you hear Kanan’s voice since Rebels ended, it really kind of dilutes his impact.” Whether or not Prinze will return for what could be Dume’s last hurrah has yet to be seen.
Just like Dume, another unlikely ally has appeared in the form of Ahsoka Tano’s longtime nemesis, Asajj Ventress. The character was supposedly killed off during the events of The Dark Disciple book, but her return has thrilled more than a few fans. Nika Futterman will voice Asajj and we couldn’t have been more thrilled to hear that sultry voice.
After Omega’s capture at the hands of the Empire, there’s no doubt that Dr. Royce Hemlock (Jimmi Simpson) will have more than a few creepy moments. The actor consistently nails his weird characters – comedic and serious alike – with a long history of embodying skin-crawling baddies like Westworld’s William and the unhinged Liam McPoyle from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
