Summary

• The Bad Batch season 3 trailer is filled with easter eggs and cameos, featuring the return of multiple fan-favorite Star Wars characters.
• The Batch needs powerful allies to rescue Omega and potentially Crosshair from Mount Tantiss, and the trailer reveals potential friends and enemies they will encounter.
• Cad Bane, Fennec Shand, and Asajj Ventress are seen in the trailer and may play significant roles in helping the Batch break Omega out of Tantiss.

The recent trailer for Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3 is packed with plenty of easter eggs and cameos for other notable characters in the franchise. The Bad Batch seasons 1 and 2 were known for featuring characters from throughout the franchise, including a young Hera Syndulla and Caleb Dude from Star Wars Rebels, Wilhuff Tarkin from A New Hope, Bib Fortuna from Return of the Jedi, and Saw Gerrera—who tends to cameo in almost every Star Wars project he can. At the moment, The Bad Batch season 3 promises an even more impressive cast.

Hunter, Wrecker, and Echo return in The Bad Batch season 3 to rescue Omega—and potentially Crosshair—from the Imperial cloning facility on Mount Tantiss. Nevertheless, the Batch is hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned. If they ever hope to infiltrate Doctor Hemlock’s impregnable fortress, they’re going to need the help of some powerful allies. Luckily, The Bad Batch season 3 trailer reveals plenty of potential friends and enemies for the Batch to contend with.

7 Captain Rex

Last seen in The Bad Batch season 2

Captain Rex has appeared in every season of The Bad Batch thus far, so it makes sense for him to be one of the earliest cameos seen in The Bad Batch season 3 trailer. Rex talks to Hunter about how devastating the aftermath of the Clone Wars has been for their clone brothers. Despite the war ending, Rex watches as more of the clones are killed and discarded by the same Empire they unwillingly helped establish.

In the trailer, Rex notably mentions how crucial Omega’s freedom is to the clones as a whole. This suggests that he’s wholeheartedly on Hunter and Wrecker’s side, and that he’ll likely help them free her from Mount Tantiss. He may accompany them to Tantiss to retrieve Omega, or he may lead what few freedom-fighting clones he has left in a last-ditch against the Empire to provide the Batch the distraction they need. In any case, it's clear Rex continues to fight for his brothers, just as he’s done since his first appearance in The Clone Wars.

6 Commander Wolffe

Making his debut in The Bad Batch season 3

Though his cameo was brief, Commander Wolffe made his first appearance in The Bad Batch series in the recent trailer. Wolffe can be seen alongside several clone troopers, along with one clone commando—possibly Gregor, who worked alongside Captain Rex in The Bad Batch season 2. In any case, either Wolffe has already shaken the inhibitor chip’s control, or Rex and the others managed to capture and remove his chip.

Wolffe’s involvement with Rex and Gregor is notable, as the three of them will eventually retire from the war and head to Seelos. In Star Wars Rebels, Ezra Bridger and the rest of the Ghost Crew will rediscover the clone veterans on Seelos and convince them to return to the fight against the Empire. However, The Bad Batch season 3 will likely explain the terrible events that befell Wolffe, Rex, and Gregor that made them walk away from the war in the first place.

5 Emperor Palpatine

Last seen in The Bad Batch season 2

Ian McDiarmid’s Emperor Palpatine made a rare in-person appearance before the Senate in The Bad Batch season 2, episode 8 to endorse his new stormtrooper program. Nevertheless, Palpatine seems to be taking an even more important role in The Bad Batch season 3 as he’s seen arriving at Tantiss. He monologues in the trailer about how crucial Tantiss’ cloning program is to the future of the Empire, laying the groundwork for his future resurrection reveal in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

In the trailer, Palpatine also tells someone—presumably Doctor Hemlock—that he’ll provide any aid necessary in order to safeguard the cloning program. This line serves to set up even greater challenges for the Batch as they attempt to rescue Omega and Crosshair from Mount Tantiss in the final season. If anything, the Batch may ultimately have to face the full force of the Empire.

4 Cad Bane

Last seen in The Bad Batch season 2

Of the three bounty hunters featured in The Bad Batch season 3 trailer, Cad Bane stands out as the most fearsome and accomplished. Bane briefly appears framed in a doorway, likening his character to many cowboys from classic Western films. His role in season 3 isn’t clear yet, but it’s possible the Batch may begrudgingly hire him to help them break Omega out of Tantiss.

If the Batch does team up with Bane, then it’ll be a fantastic character reversal from his role in The Bad Batch season 2. Previously, Bane was tasked by the Kaminoan Lama Su to capture Omega. He ends up being thwarted by Fennec Shand and the rest of the Batch, but Bane tends not to hold grudges when his jobs pay well enough. If the Batch can pool together a big enough paycheck, chances are high they can get him on board with their heist.

3 Fennec Shand

Last seen in The Bad Batch season 2

In addition to Bane, The Bad Batch season 3 trailer also featured the return of Ming-Na Wen’s character, Fennec Shand, who first appeared in The Mandalorian. Shand also appeared alongside Bane in The Bad Batch season 2 as another bounty hunter tasked with capturing Omega. Ultimately, neither hunter was successful, but Shand was able to briefly get to know Omega, which may prompt her to care about the girl’s fate in The Bad Batch season 3.

Similarly to Bane, Shand’s role in The Bad Batch season 3 has yet to be revealed. In the trailer, she sits at the table with her helmet off and a drink in hand. It’s possible the Batch may look to hire her along with Bane for their heist in breaking Omega out of Tantiss, as Shand’s assassination skills would be invaluable for taking out formidable targets from a distance.

2 Asajj Ventress

Making her debut in The Bad Batch season 3

Easily the most unexpected and shocking cameo in The Bad Batch season 3 trailer, Asajj Ventress is now back in Star Wars (despite her supposed death in the Dark Disciple novel by Christie Golden). Instead of her typical red lightsabers, which she lost in The Clone Wars season 7, Ventress now sports a single yellow lightsaber along with a new hairstyle. After being cast aside by Dooku and the Separatists during the war, Ventress is likely still making a living off of bounty hunting.

Unlike Bane and Shand, Ventress actually has a few lines in The Bad Batch season 3 trailer. She tells someone that she wasn’t planning on killing them. It’s possible she’s speaking to the Bad Batch themselves. Or—if the Batch ends up hiring her, Bane, and Shand—Ventress may be speaking to Omega, who is getting on her nerves while breaking her out. In any case, Ventress’ return to Star Wars will add a new layer to the Bad Batch’s quest to reclaim Omega.

1 Delta Squad

Last seen in The Bad Batch season 2

Finally, The Bad Batch season 3 trailer also features the return of the Delta Squad from the Republic Commando video game. Previously, Delta Squad also appeared in The Clone Wars season 3, episode 14. It seems as if Scorch, Boss, and Fixer now act as Doctor Hemlock’s personal guards while on Tantiss, though the latter two haven’t been confirmed. In any case, as Imperial Commandos, Delta Squad is invaluable for training the Empire’s new stormtroopers.

Aside from all the character cameos, key characters Hunter, Wrecker, Echo, Crosshair, and Omega are all confirmed to return in The Bad Batch season 3. Wanda Sykes character Phee Genoa will also return. Additionally, there’s speculation that Tech may have survived his supposed demise in The Bad Batch season 2. However, after her betrayal of the Batch at the end of season 2, it doesn’t look like Rhea Pearlman will return as Cid Scaleback in The Bad Batch season 3.