Family Guy Season 24: This major character is officially dead confirms the EP

Family Guy Season 24 is going to be released in 2026, and an executive producer of the show has confirmed the death of a character ahead of the next season. Created by Seth MacFarlane, the show follows the Griffin family, which includes Peter, Lois, Meg, Chris, Stewie, and their dog Brian, through their daily adventures in the town of Quahog, Rhode Island.

Known for its sharp humour and cutaway gags, the series is known for its surprises. Now, just ahead of Family Guy Season 24, executive producer Alec Sulkin has confirmed that the longtime recurring character, Ernie the Giant Chicken, is dead and will not be returning.

Family Guy Season 24: Ernie the Giant Chicken is dead

For over two decades, Ernie the Giant Chicken has been a part of one of the show’s longest-running rivalries that he shared with Peter Griffin. Ever since his debut in the Season 2 episode Da Boom, Ernie became a recurring character, often appearing in later seasons to challenge Peter in elaborate fights that levelled entire neighbourhoods.

The character was, however, shown to be dead in Season 23’s episode, The Chicken or the Meg. In that episode, Meg began dating Ernie’s teenage son, Nugget. While Ernie allowed the relationship, he told Meg she would have to cut ties with her father if she wanted to continue dating Nugget. Meg refused, and in a shocking turn, killed Ernie by cutting off his head. His body staggered around briefly before collapsing, leaving his fate unexplained since he had survived attacks like this before.

This time, however, the character isn't going to survive. In a conversation with TVLine, executive producer Alec Sulkin stated that Ernie is dead and not returning. He said,

“I think that the chicken has gone the way of all flesh,"

He continued,

“Honestly, I feel like we got so many great set pieces out of the giant chicken fighting with Peter that they became hard to top. It’s a lot to ask of our production crew, and we may have just gotten the best out of that character.”

That confirms that the Giant isn't going to return in Family Guy Season 24 or any other future seasons. While Ernie’s fights with Peter became an expected highlight of many seasons, Sulkin’s statement suggests that the team feels they’ve exhausted what the character and his storyline could deliver.

Ernie is not the only character who has died in the series. In Season 21, Stewie’s rival Doug was written out of the story after being killed in an off-screen plane crash. Angela, Peter’s boss, voiced by Carrie Fisher, was removed from the show following Fisher’s death.

Even with Ernie’s death, Family Guy has secured a strong future. The show received a major renewal in April 2025, guaranteeing four more seasons and securing its run until at least 2029. Before Family Guy Season 24 arrives, fans will also see two holiday specials on Hulu. The first, A Little Fright Music, will air on October 6 as a Halloween episode, while a Christmas-themed special will arrive later in the year.

Family Guy Season 24 will be released in the spring of 2026.

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