Star Wars has confirmed that one member of the titular team from Star Wars: The Bad Batch has left the group. The Batch consisted of four members when first introduced during the timeline of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. These members were Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, and Crosshair. Echo then joined in The Clone Wars, before Omega took the squad's members up to six. Tech's death then saw it drop back down to five, while Echo's missions with Rex mean The Bad Batch season 3's story has centered more closely on Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair, and Omega.
In light of the endless changes to Star Wars: The Bad Batch's titular team, the Star Wars Databank has confirmed that one character is not even an official member of the group. That member is Echo, who is listed as a clone 'formerly of the 501st and the Bad Batch.' This is in reference to Echo's aid of Rex, though many assumed this did not supersede his status as a member of the Bad Batch. However, Star Wars has seemingly confirmed that it does, rendering Echo no longer a member of Clone Force 99 while setting up a potential upcoming Star Wars TV show.
Since Echo began working with Rex in The Bad Batch season 2, many have been wondering if this storyline could serve as another Star Wars spin-off. Echo has been working with Rex to liberate clones across the galaxy under the Empire's oppression, something that could work as yet another Clone Wars-adjacent show. While Echo and Rex are set up to help the Bad Batch liberate Mount Tantiss, they have been away from Clone Force 99 for a long time.
As such, their adventures could serve as another animated Star Wars show. Not only would this continue the legacy of The Clone Wars, but it would further fill the gap in Rex's life between The Bad Batch and Star Wars Rebels. In doing so, Echo's departure from Star Wars: The Bad Batch would be for good reason, as it promises more for his character down the line.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch is an action-adventure animated series set after the events of The Clone Wars, following Clone Force 99 (a.k.a. the Bad Batch.) Finding themselves immune to the brainwashing effects of Order 66, the Bad Batch become mercenaries for hire while outrunning the empire, now seeing them as fugitives of the law.
