With the introduction of the new season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, many have been left wondering whether many of the characters introduced will be brought into more Star Wars movies or shows – perhaps even in live-action. Now in its third season, the series covers the story of the titular “Bad Batch,” also called Clone Force 99. It follows a group of clones in the aftermath of Order 66, each with their own unique abilities.
With such an important focus on the familial bonds and sibling dynamics at work between the clones, finding the right actors to fit the family dynamic is the most important element to picking a live action The Bad Batch cast. This, coupled with the fact that Temuera Morrison cannot feasibly play every clone in the cast, makes for an interesting situation. Which actors would best bring out the differences between these clones?
Best known for her role as one of the villains in Power Rangers Dino Thunder and later in films such as Love and Monsters, Miriama Smith is an actor who right off the bat seems like the perfect person for the role of Emerie Karr. Because she has played villains before, a role as Emerie seems like the natural next step. Considering the complicated nature of Emerie and Omega’s relationship, this would be something interesting to see in live action.
With Smith playing Emerie, her performance is sure to be one backed by the uncertainty of the character’s allegiances. At the end of the day, whether Emerie is truly loyal to her family or the Empire remains to be seen. This is something that not only could, but should be explored in live action, and Smith would be the perfect actor to do just that.
The perfect casting for villainous Dr. Hemlock already exists in the form of his voice actor, Jimmi Simpson. Not only does he look the part, but he also has an incredible body of work that spans decades in the film industry across both film and television. Having appeared in classics such as Zodiac, Black Mirror, and most famously having a recurring role as Liam McPoyle in It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, it is clear that Simpson is no stranger to live action work.
Because he already plays Dr. Hemlock in The Bad Batch, the characterization is already there. Simpson would be just as frightening of an intergalactic foe, whether voice acting for the role or playing him in a fuller capacity. In this way, he could follow in the footsteps of actress Katee Sackhoff, who played Bo-Katan Kryze both when she was animated and later on when she was introduced in live action.
When it comes to a character like Echo who is often defined by his cybernetic enhancements, an actor with real heart is required in order to keep the character feeling human as opposed to robotic. Jordi Webber would be the perfect choice for this role. With experience starring in romantic comedies and the soap opera Home Away, but also Power Rangers Ninja Steel, Webber seems to have the well-rounded filmography that would call for a character such as Echo.
Not only does he have action experience from playing the Gold Ranger, but his time as a romantic lead would ensure that Echo is given the personalization he needs. As opposed to passing the character to someone who would focus on all the wrong aspects, a performance from Webber would ensure that at the end of the day the viewer knows Echo’s heart. A heartfelt performance from such a beloved and often self-sacrificing character is exactly what the live-action series would need.
A legendary actor in his own right, Jemaine Clement is best known for his performances in Gentleman Broncos, Moana, and Avatar: The Way of Water. He has also made a variety of appearances in television, even working with Taika Waititi to write and direct What We Do in the Shadows. He is experienced with voice acting in animation, showing an understanding of the original medium of The Bad Batch. Though his acting tends to lend towards comedy, it often has a certain hopelessness that lends well to Crosshair’s character.
As a character, Crosshair is unique among Clone Force 99 for his initial loyalty to the Empire. This is an aspect of his character that Clement could bring out of him, as evidenced with his heavier, nuanced portrayals such as that of Will Henry in People Places Things. For a Crosshair with the range necessary of a character caught in moral transition, Clement would be the perfect choice.
Although he is best known for directing projects such as Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi is also a successful actor in his own right. He is also already tied to the Star Wars franchise, having directed an episode of The Mandalorian and voiced IG-88 in the live action series. Currently, he is working on a Star Wars film of his very own, though more news on the project has yet to be released.
Because Tech is such a matter of fact character, someone who is normally cast in more comedic roles may seem like an odd choice. However, after his performance as a similarly matter-of-fact and often deadly character in Blackbeard on the television series Our Flag Means Death, Waititi seems like the perfect choice to bring the character to life. Not only does he have the acting range, but he has the experience in showcasing complicated emotions for characters that would otherwise be played as one-note.
Having starred in a variety of action roles from The Hobbit Trilogy to Spartacus, Manu Bennett not only has the build to play a character like Wrecker but the experience as well. However, it is his time as Deathstroke on the television series Arrow that really shows off his acting chops. Not only does he have experience in big budget franchises, but also in bringing once animated characters into live action successfully.
Though Wrecker is often seen as the musclehead of the group, a performance from Bennett would ensure that there is more to his character than strength. This could be an opportunity for a more serious Wrecker, something that is only seen sparingly in the animation. His live action Wrecker is sure to be both terrifying in a fight and capable of connecting with those around him.
With a long filmography spanning films such as Live Free or Die Hard, Doctor Sleep, and The Meg, Cliff Curtis has been working in big budget movies for decades. These performances have included genres from drama to horror and everything in between, with action being a specific focus of many of the films he has participated in. Because of this, it is clear that Curtis would be the perfect choice for Hunter, the commanding officer of Clone Force 99.
As a character, Hunter is arguably the most responsible member of the group. Curtis would be the perfect choice to reflect this, able to perfectly mimic Hunter’s commanding presence from the show as can be seen with his recent appearance as Tonowari in Avatar: The Way of Water. There is also a unique care and empathy that Hunter has as a character for his family, something that is best reflected in Curtis’ performance as Billy Freeman in Doctor Sleep.
Due to the youth of the character and the focus on her throughout the show, Omega is a bit of a difficult hero to cast. One has to keep in mind the difficulty of leading such a show, balancing things such as actor age and believability in the role. Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, who has been acting since her debut in The Hunt for Wilder People in 2016, would be the perfect choice for balancing youth with acting experience.
Since her debut she has appeared in projects such as Kairaakau and The Convert. Her roles in these projects are both serious and grounded, something that she could easily translate to a Star Wars: The Bad Batch character like Omega. For a lead with both the strength and poise necessary for taking on an entire galaxy at such a young age, there is no better choice for casting than Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne.