A new trailer for Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 just dropped that boasts plenty of new and familiar faces.
The trailer first premiered on Disney+ and includes appearances by fan-favorite characters Captain Rex (Dee Bradley Baker) and Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). It also spotlights a more recent addition to Star Wars canon, Wookiee padawan Gungi. Unsurprisingly, The Bad Batch‘s titular squad of elite clone troopers feature prominently as well, with Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair, and Echo (all voiced by Baker) shown weighing up whether to take a more active role in the fight against the Empire. The squad’s young companion Omega (Michelle Ang) is also on hand, now visibly older than she was in The Bad Batch Season 1.
The new trailer is one of multiple Bad Batch Season 2 sneak peeks Lucasfilm and Disney+ have offered fans since the animated series was renewed in August 2021. Of these, one of the most recent introduced the new costumes sported by the members of Clone Force 99 in the show’s next batch of episodes. Although the Bad Batch’s armor remains largely unchanged in the second season, the red sections are now painted orange. This change was reportedly made to signify the squad “wearing their evolution as armor.”
Palpatine Looms Large in The Bad Batch S2
This same trailer also confirmed Emperor Palpatine’s involvement in The Bad Batch Season 2. The legendary Star Wars villain is seen standing at the central podium of the Senate Chamber, while his distinctive voice is heard promising to usher in a new era. Ian McDiarmid previously fueled rumors that he was set to reprise the Palpatine role by leaving the door open for his indirect return to the franchise. “All I would say about future speculation is, if you’re expecting the Emperor to appear, soon in flesh and blood — don’t get your hopes up.”
The veteran stage and screen performer commented on his long history with the Star Wars franchise in a recent interview, recalling how he originally believed his tenure as Palpatine was over following 1983’s Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. “[W]hen we did Return of the Jedi, and I was thrown down that shoot to galactic hell… I said ‘Does he come back?'” McDiarmid said. “And [Star Wars creator George Lucas] said, ‘No he’s dead.'”
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 premieres on Disney+ on Jan. 4, 2023, and will run for 16 episodes.
