The acclaimed filmmaker is set to reprise his role as the deranged McPoyle family patriarch when the long-running FX sitcom returns for its eighteenth season. Guillermo del Toro, who first appeared in the series over a decade ago, confirmed his involvement through a social media post that has excited fans of the show.
Oscar Winner Guillermo del Toro Back as Pappy McPoyle
Guillermo del Toro, the Oscar-winning director of The Shape of Water, will return to the world of Paddy’s Pub in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18. The filmmaker took to social media earlier this week with a close-up image of himself in character, simply captioning it “Pappy is coming back” . This marks his third appearance as the McPoyle family patriarch, following memorable turns in seasons eight and eleven .
Production on the new season is currently underway in Los Angeles, with the core cast back on set. Rob McElhenney, who co-created the series and plays Mac, shared a photo of a clapperboard with the caption “Back in the kitchen” to confirm filming had begun in February 2026 . McElhenney also posted a side-by-side image of himself, Charlie Day, and Glenn Howerton wearing tuxedos, comparing their looks from season one to now .
The Story Behind Del Toro’s Unusual Sunny Connection
The friendship between Guillermo del Toro and Charlie Day dates back more than a decade. Del Toro cast Day in his 2013 sci-fi film Pacific Rim, and the collaboration came with a unique condition. Day recalled to CBR in 2012 that del Toro said, “Oh, I want you to be in my movie and in return I’d love to be on Sunny” . At the time, Day was unsure whether the director was joking.
Del Toro was completely serious. When he arrived on set, he asked for the most humiliating role possible. “I told Charlie to give me the most demeaning cameo he could in the episode, and he came up with Pappy McPoyle,” del Toro said in a behind-the-scenes interview . He plays the role with unhinged enthusiasm, portraying a man who believes he is the Titan Kronos and mutters disturbing lines about consuming his offspring.
Day has spoken warmly about del Toro’s influence on his work. The director even provided notes on Day’s directorial debut, Fool’s Paradise. “I owe a massive debt of gratitude to Guillermo Del Toro,” Day told The Hollywood Reporter . The director’s visual style also inspired the horror-themed elements of the season eight episode “The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre,” which Day described to Conan O’Brien as incorporating “a few Guillermo takes” .
What Fans Can Expect in Season 18
Details about specific episodes remain under wraps, but del Toro’s return suggests the McPoyle family will play a significant role in the upcoming season. David Hornsby, who plays Matthew “Rickety Cricket” Mara, also teased his return around the same time, complimenting the makeup artists who helped transform him back into the character .
Rob McElhenney recently confirmed that season eighteen will feature more than eight episodes, breaking the pattern of shorter seasons the show has followed since 2021 . The last several installments each ran for eight episodes, with seasons fifteen through seventeen debuting in December 2021, summer 2023, and summer 2025 respectively .
All five main cast members are returning. Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito are all confirmed to appear . The season seventeen finale saw Frank Reynolds planning to marry Sam, played by Carol Kane, after appearing on The Golden Bachelor. Whether Kane returns for season eighteen has not been confirmed .
Production Timeline and Episode Count Updates
FX first renewed It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia through season eighteen back in December 2020, a rare four-season pickup that guaranteed the show’s future years in advance . Danny DeVito revealed to Collider in July 2025 that filming would begin at the end of January 2026, a timeline the production appears to have met .
Kaitlin Olson participated in a charity auction in September 2025 offering fans a set visit, with the experience scheduled between February 12 and February 28, 2026 . This aligns with current production activity.
FX has not yet announced a premiere date for the new season. Based on recent patterns, where seasons have launched approximately ten to twelve months after filming began, a summer or fall 2026 debut seems plausible . The network has not confirmed whether this will be the final season, though the 2020 renewal only guaranteed episodes through season eighteen .
The McPoyle Legacy and Del Toro’s Unique Performance
Pappy McPoyle first appeared in season eight’s “The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre,” which aired in October 2012 . The episode, directed by Richie Keen, presented the McPoyle family gathering for Maureen’s wedding with horror movie flourishes. Del Toro returned for the season eleven courtroom episode “McPoyle vs. Ponderosa: The Trial of the Century.”
The director has spoken humorously about his character’s place in McPoyle lore. “Pappy McPoyle is like Zeus,” del Toro joked. “He is the originary father of all the McPoyles. They come from his loins like the Titans in Greek mythology. And he has to destroy them before they eat him” . The character wears a bird on his head and speaks in ominous, cryptic declarations that unnerve even his own bizarre family.
Del Toro’s willingness to embrace the show’s absurdity has made his cameos fan favorites. The character represents one of the most unexpected celebrity appearances in the series, joining the ranks of other surprising guests like Christopher Lloyd, who played a john dressed as Santa Claus, and Sinbad and Rob Thomas, who appeared as delusional rehab patients.
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The Show’s Historic Run Continues
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia holds the record as the longest-running live-action sitcom in American television history . The show debuted in 2005 and has maintained its core cast throughout, with DeVito joining in season two. Its willingness to avoid traditional character growth and redemption arcs has kept the comedy sharp and unpredictable.
Olson recently discussed the show’s longevity on the Dear Chelsea podcast with Chelsea Handler. “I have zero mixed feelings about it. I met my husband. I’ve got two kids. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” Olson said . She also acknowledged the oddity of still playing the same role after nearly twenty years, saying, “It’s getting weird. Like… a few years ago, it was exciting. We’re like, ‘Oh, we’re breaking records.’ And now it’s like, ‘Well, now we’re just old and weird’” .
DeVito addressed the possibility of ending the series in a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter. “Well, as long as we have a good ending — I don’t know what the ending could be, they probably have one already figured out in their head,” he said. “It would be hard to let go, but if it’s right and the audience is happy with it, then I think it’s a good thing to do” .
For now, the cameras are rolling, the gang is back together, and Pappy McPoyle is preparing to unleash more chaos when It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season eighteen arrives on FX.
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Want more updates on your favorite FX comedies? Check out our coverage of other long-running shows returning this year.
