Could slork be alive somehow?

This is probably my personal bias towards slork but I feel like there has been a particularly high interest in him. Surely they wouldn’t can a character (at least completely) when there has been a significant excitement for them? Right? Idk man I am huffing on that slork copium hard. Huffing and puffing. I just want my man. He was so cool. I can imagine so many little escapades one could indulge in while playing fishy boy.