It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Season 18 Set Photo Confirms Return Of Fan-Favorite Character After 10 Years

In the latest update for the long-running comedy, it was confirmed by It’s Always Sunny star Rob Mac that the cast and crew have begun filming on season 18. It was likewise confirmed in February that the upcoming installment will have more than 8 episodes. This breaks a trend that has stood since season 15, with the FX series turning to shorter episode runs.

Now, in the latest Always Sunny surprise, director Guillermo del Toro has shared on social media that he will reprise his role as Pappy McPoyle. The influential filmmaker, who is a three-time Academy Award winner, revealed the news by uploading a photo to X of the fan-favorite character and writing: “Pappy is coming back…” Check out the photo below:

For those who don’t know, Pappy McPoyle is the patriarch of the McPoyles. They are antagonists to the main characters, such as Charlie, with Pappy presumably being the grandfather of Liam and Ryan McPoyle. He first appeared in the season 8 episode “The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre.” He later returned for season 11’s “McPoyle vs. Ponderosa: The Trial of the Century,” which aired in 2016.

Pappy’s has a famously unhinged speech about how “all the McPoyles sprung from [his] loins fully formed,” adding that he proceeded to eat one of the babies. This may be a reference to classical mythology, specifically the Greek myth of Kronos devouring his children before being slain by Zeus. According to cast member Charlie Day, del Toro worked in that line himself.

Along with del Toro’s impressive and varied filmography, he also has his share of acting credits. They include Futurama, The Simpsons, Barry, and Hellboy.

He joins the ranks of important It’s Always Sunny characters. Other standouts include Rickety Cricket, played by David Hornsby, who begins as a well-meaning priest but gradually descends into homelessness and addiction through the gang’s influence. There’s also Artemis Dubois, portrayed by Artemis Pebdani, in the role of Dee’s eccentric friend who thrives on chaotic schemes and unabashedly bizarre behavior, often amplifying the gang’s most absurd situations.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 18 doesn’t yet have a release date. But with filming underway and returning characters announced, it’s likely only to be a matter of time before viewers get to enjoy the gang’s wild adventures and del Toro’s comeback as Pappy.