Summary

• Dr. Penn Pershing's fate in The Mandalorian was ambiguous, but the Star Wars Encyclopedia hints at his survival.
• Grand iral Thrawn and Pershing may return in The Mandalorian & Grogu to escalate the stakes.
• The Imperial Remnant could try to free Pershing and restore his memories to help make progress on Project Necromancer, the plot to resurrect Emperor Palpatine.

Star Wars film, and while there aren't many story details about the movie yet, it's safe to assume some of their past allies and enemies will them. One of those returning characters could even be a person who had a very uncertain fate in The Mandalorian.

Quite a few of Din and Grogu's enemies have met very definitive, and often violent, ends over "mustache theory" suggests Moff Gideon survived, and it's possible he could return. One character in particular, though, had a very uncertain fate that may have just signalled that he'll soon return in the future.

Dr. Pershing Didn't Die In The Mandalorian Season 3 After All

Dr. Penn Pershing, the scientist who researched Grogu's blood as part of Project Necromancer, didn't actually die. In The Mandalorian season 3, episode 3, Penn Pershing was betrayed by another former member of the New Republic Amnesty Program, Elia Kane. As a result of her betrayal, Pershing was put into a device called a mind flayer, which was designed to remove his memories. When he was put in the mind flayer, Kane turned the voltage all the way up, and The Mandalorian never fully revealed Pershing's fate.

Project Necromancer was the Imperial Remnant's plan to create a clone capable of holding Emperor Palpatine's life essence, which would essentially grant the Sith Lord eternal life.

Luckily, an excerpt from the "Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy" revealed that Pershing only had his memory wiped.

Pershing is turned over to the New Republic, and during his rehabilitation, he's betrayed by Elia Kane, who wipes his memory with a mind flayer.

The Star Wars Encyclopedia was very particular about what it used to describe Pershing's fate. It purposefully avoided any mention of his death, and the note that his memory was wiped is an indication that he's still alive. Since Pershing survived Elia Kane's betrayal, that means he could soon return to the world of The Mandalorian.

How Dr. Pershing Could Return

Penn Pershing's mind was wiped in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 3, but he still had a small effect on The Mandalorian season 3, episode 7. When Moff Gideon met with the Imperial Remnant's Shadow Council, he mentioned that Pershing's research was captured by the New Republic and said, "His research is lost. For now, at least." Gideon's comments may be a hint that the Imperial Remnant could try to recapture Pershing and restore his memories to help with Project Necromancer. Pershing was one of the Remnant's leading scientists, and his knowledge of Midi-chlorians and cloning could prove vital to their efforts.

If the Imperial Remnant does try to bring Pershing back on board and have him help with Project Necromancer, The Mandalorian & Grogu would be the perfect place to do it. After Grand iral Thrawn's return at the end of Ahsoka, the Imperial Remnant is stronger than it ever has been. The Remnant could even be strong enough to start working against the New Republic out in the open, which would be the perfect excuse to free Pershing from the Amnesty Program. With Thrawn's military might and Pershing's cloning research, the Imperial Remnant could wreak havoc in The Mandalorian & Grogu.

Bringing Dr. Pershing back for The Mandalorian & Grogu would also work outside the confines of the story. The Mandalorian & Grogu will be the first Star Wars movie to hit theaters since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It needs to raise the stakes beyond anything seen in the show so far, and using both Thrawn and Pershing to threaten the galaxy at the same time could be the perfect way to make it more exciting. If that does prove to be the case, then Penn Pershing could go from a side character in The Mandalorian to a key part of the future of Star Wars as a whole.

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