‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Premieres This May (the Fourth Be With You)

When else could a new Star Wars series premiere than on May 4, the day inextricably tied to the Star Wars fandom? And that’s exactly when the hotly anticipated Star Wars: The Clone Wars sequel Star Wars: The Bad Batch will premiere on Disney+: Tuesday, May 4, 2021, as just announced as part of the Television Critics Association’s 2021 winter tour.

Set between the end of The Clone Wars and the beginning of the OG Star Wars trilogy (a.k.a. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope), The Bad Batch, according to Disney+’s description:

“Follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch (first introduced in The Clone Wars) as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War. Members of Bad Batch—a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army – each possess a singular exceptional skill that makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers and a formidable crew.”

Executive produced by The Mandalorian and Clone Wars guru Dave Filoni, as well as Athena Portillo, Brad Rau (who is also supervising director), Jennifer Corbett (also head writer) and Carrie Beck, the show is a little scant on actual details, but we do know two voices who will be popping up: Dee Bradley Baker as Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair, Hunter, and Echo; and Ming-Na Wen as Fennec Shand.

On the former, in case you’re confused: yes, they’re all clones, so they have the same voice actor behind them. On the latter, this might be a pleasant surprise for fans of The Mandalorian in particular, as Shand has become a fan favorite from her appearances in both seasons of the live-action series, and will now be making her animated debut. Wen will also play Shand in the upcoming Mandalorian spinoff, The Book of Boba Fett. For continuity-heads, Mandalorian takes place after Star Wars: Episode V – Return of the Jedi, so this will be a younger version of Shand.

Presumably, we’ll find out a lot more about the series as we get closer to the premiere date. And as always, May the Fourth be with you.