Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7
Star Wars has revealed a massively important group in The Mandalorian, essential to the future of the galaxy after the original trilogy: the Imperial Shadow Council. While it was believed the that Empire shattered after the Battle of Endor, it's now been revealed that the Imperial Remnant was more unified than was originally believed. Additionally, a massive campaign was underway to bring the Empire back long before the dawn of the First Order in the sequels.
At the beginning of The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7, Giancarlo Esposito's Moff Gideon is confirmed to be free from the New Republic's incarceration and is operating in a secret Imperial facility. What's more, he meets with a collection of fellow Imperial warlords via hologram after conversing with Elia Kane (Katy O'Brian), his spy on Coruscant who's been working within the heart of the New Republic itself. As a result, Star Wars confirms the critical purpose of this Imperial Shadow Council and its key .
The Imperial Shadow Council Origins & Purpose
While the New Republic currently believes the Empire was shattered into small and isolated groups following the destruction of the second Death Star and the demise of Palpatine and Vader, the truth is another matter entirely. In reality, the Imperial Shadow Council was formed to ensure the Empire's eventual rebirth from the ashes. As revealed in the first few minutes of The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7, the Council has split the galaxy into various sectors with each warlord maintaining their own zones, attempting to gather what resources they can for the sake of a greater overarching plan (while not alerting the New Republic to their grander goals)
However, it's worth noting that the Imperial Shadow Council is not completely unified. Tensions and distrust abound with trickery and plenty of presumed manipulations between one warlord and the next. Many of the leaders (like Gideon) have begun to doubt the idea that there is some grander plan surrounding the return of one of the Empire's most powerful leaders. This is where ulterior agendas and secret motives come in, even though the Imperial Remnant will eventually get what it wants with the birth of the First Order ahead of the sequel trilogy.
Who Is On The Imperial Shadow Council
Aside from Gideon himself, there appear to be eight different delegations of the Imperial Remnant who are part of the Imperial Shadow Council. However, only two are named with major significance to both this present era of the Star Wars timeline and the future with the First Order. Played by Brian Gleeson, Commandant Brendol Hux is revealed to be a member of the Council alongside Captain Gilad Pellaeon (Xander Berkeley), second-in-command to none other than Grand iral Thrawn who will make his live-action debut in the Ahsoka series thanks to returning actor Lars Mikkelsen who voiced Thrawn in Star Wars Rebels.
The six other Imperial leaders are listed collectively as "Warlords" in the credits of The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7. Played by Jonny Coyne, Jodi Long, Hemky Madera, Ron Bottitta, Marco Khan, and Imelda Corcoran, any one of these Imperial leaders could be further developed into much larger characters in their own right, perhaps even becoming canonized warlords from Legends just like Thrawn and Pellaeon. For example, any of them could be later revealed to be new canon versions of characters from the old Expanded Universe such as Warlord Zsinj, Ysanne Isard, or Ardus Kaine, all of whom played crucial roles in the Empire's survival following the Battle of Endor in the original continuity before Disney.
Brendol Hux and Project Necromancer
The father of Armitage Hux (Domhnall Gleeson), a major sequel trilogy villain, Brendol Hux looks to be preparing for his son's future in the depths of the Unknown Regions, working on something called Project Necromancer which would have benefited from Doctor Pershing's cloning research. Combined with Brendol's comment that Necromancer's goal is to provide new leadership for the Imperial Remnant, it's more than likely that the project involves the future resurrection of Palpatine and his precursor Supreme Leader Snoke. Unsurprisingly, Gideon confirms Hux is one of two Shadow Council who's receiving the bulk of the Remnant's collective resources.
Praetorian Guards
To that end, it's worth noting that Gideon has to requisition said resources from Hux in order to respond to the growing threat of the Mandalorians seeking to reclaim their homeworld. While this includes a new deployment of TIE Interceptors and Bombers, he also requests three Praetorian Guards, the evolution of Palpatine's royal guards first seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. As a result, it's now confirmed that the formidable bodyguards were already being recruited and trained to serve the Imperial Shadow Council during this era so soon after the Battle of Endor.
Thrawn's Shadow Council Role & Plan
The other named Imperial leader is Captain Gilad Pellaeon, Grand iral Thrawn's second-in-command who keeps assuring his fellow leaders that Thrawn's imminent return will restore the Empire back to its former glory. While Gideon and others have begun expressing their doubts, it seems Thrawn has a greater plan to wipe out the New Republic for good, something that will likely be revealed to a greater extent in the Ahsoka series. In the meantime, Thrawn likely needs the Shadow Council to continue operating as they have been, maintaining their sectors until they're all ready to collectively strike under his command.
Pellaeon is an important figure from the old Expanded Universe, where he served as the Watson to Thrawn's Sherlock Holmes. There, he ultimately became ruler of the Imperial Remnant, leading the Empire against the extragalactic Yuuzhan Vong invaders. Pellaeon played a part in the Siege of Lothal in Star Wars Rebels, but it's exciting to see him appear in live-action at last.
Gideon's Shadow Council Role & Plan
Conversely, The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7 makes it evident that Moff Gideon is building toward his own Imperial agenda. Not only does he want to take over the Shadow Council, but he intends to do so by combining the best parts of clones, Jedi, and Mandalorians into one deadly army under his sole command. He clearly has little faith in Pellaeon or the supposed return of Grand iral Thrawn, and as such he's taken matters into his own hands. Keeping that in mind, it stands to reason that Moff Gideon may soon be on his own without the of the Imperial Shadow Council in Star Wars' near future.