After more than two decades of epic brawls, one of Family Guy‘s most famous recurring characters will not be returning. Executive producers have confirmed that Ernie the Giant Chicken, Peter Griffin’s long-time rival, is officially dead and will not appear in the upcoming Season 24 or any future seasons.
The Final Confirmation
The fate of Ernie the Giant Chicken was left uncertain after the events of Season 23’s episode, “The Chicken or the Meg.” In that episode, Meg Griffin began dating Ernie’s son, Nugget. Ernie gave Meg an ultimatum: she could continue dating his son only if she completely cut ties with her father, Peter. Meg refused and, in a shocking turn, decapitated the Giant Chicken. While the character had survived seemingly fatal injuries in the past, this time his death is permanent.
Executive Producer Alec Sulkin has now confirmed the character’s end. In a statement, he said:
“I think that the chicken has gone the way of all flesh. 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.”
This confirmation indicates that the creative team feels they have fully explored the potential of the character and his signature fight sequences with Peter.
Why the Character Was Retired
Ernie the Giant Chicken first appeared in the Season 2 episode “Da Boom” in 1999. For over 26 years, his role was primarily to engage in absurdly long and destructive fight scenes with Peter Griffin. These elaborate sequences, which often leveled entire neighborhoods, became a beloved running gag but were notoriously demanding for the show’s animation team.
Sulkin and fellow executive producer Richard Appel indicated that the creative team felt the concept had reached its peak. They noted that the fight scene between Peter and Homer Simpson in the Family Guy and The Simpsons crossover episode was a high point that was difficult to surpass. The decision to kill off the character reflects a feeling that the best possible versions of these fights had already been produced.
A Look at the Character’s History
Ernie the Giant Chicken was never a main character but became an iconic figure through his sporadic appearances. His role was simple: he would randomly encounter Peter, and a minor disagreement would trigger an extensive, action-movie-style brawl. These fights were parodies of action film tropes and were unique for their scale and randomness within the show.
Despite his recurring role, the character had significant appearances in only about ten episodes across the show’s 25-season history. His most recent significant storyline outside of the fights was in the Season 19 episode “Fecal Matters,” where Peter helped nurse him back to health from an illness, revealing that Peter somewhat relied on their chaotic rivalry to add excitement to his life.
Other Characters Who Have Stayed Dead
In the world of Family Guy, where continuity is often flexible, very few characters who die remain dead. Ernie now joins a small group of characters whose deaths have been permanent. This includes:
- Doug: Stewie’s classroom rival was killed off-screen in a commuter plane crash in Season 21.
- Angela: Peter’s boss was written out of the show following the real-life passing of her voice actor, Carrie Fisher.
- Diane Simmons: The news anchor was murdered in the Season 9 episode “And Then There Were Fewer.”
What’s Next for Family Guy
The show’s future remains bright despite this character’s departure. In April 2025, Fox announced a major four-season renewal for Family Guy, guaranteeing new episodes through at least 2029, which would take the show through its 27th season.
Before Season 24 fully begins, fans can look forward to two new holiday specials streaming on Hulu. The first is a Halloween special titled “A Little Fright Music,” which is scheduled to release on October 6, 2025. The official synopsis reveals that the episode will follow Brian and Stewie as they try to write a hit Halloween song, while Peter and his friends discover that lying about trick-or-treating can have deadly consequences. A Christmas-themed special will follow later in the year.
The full 24th season of Family Guy is expected to premiere on Fox in the spring of 2026.
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