The Gang Discusses the Future: Glenn Howerton Opens Up About Ending It’s Always Sunny

After 20 years of chaotic schemes, questionable morality, and endless laughs, fans of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia have been wondering: how much longer can The Gang keep going? In a recent interview promoting his new Netflix series “Sirens,” Glenn Howerton gave us the most candid answer yet about the show’s future.

The Annual Check-In

Howerton revealed that after each season, the cast has what he calls a “check in with ourselves” conversation about the show’s future. “We never like to have those conversations about what the future of the show is when we finish a season. Because that’s when we are like, ‘Yeah, I’m done. I can’t do this anymore.’ It’s always good to take a couple months off, and then have that conversation, like, ‘Do we want to keep going?'”

This behind-the-scenes insight gives us a glimpse into how the longest-running live-action sitcom in American television history has managed to stay fresh and maintain its edge. Rather than forcing themselves to continue when they’re burned out from production, The Gang takes time to breathe before making decisions about their future.

Still Having a Blast After Two Decades

Despite the regular discussions about potentially ending the series, Howerton was quick to reassure fans that “We’re still having such a blast working with each other. And, there seems to be endless ways to explore the world through these characters. So, we have no intention of stopping anytime soon.”

This sentiment speaks to what has made It’s Always Sunny so enduringly successful: the genuine chemistry between the cast members and their deep understanding of these hilariously terrible characters. After 16 seasons (with Season 17 premiering July 9, 2025), they’re still finding new ways to push the boundaries of bad behavior.

The Cast’s Expanding Horizons

Part of what makes these end-of-season conversations necessary is the cast’s increasingly busy schedules. Since the show’s 2005 debut, each member has branched out into other successful projects:

• Kaitlin Olson earned an Emmy nomination for her work in HBO’s “Hacks” and now stars in ABC’s “High Potential”
• Rob McElhenney created “Mythic Quest” for Apple TV+ and co-created the hit docuseries “Welcome to Wrexham” with Ryan Reynolds
• Charlie Day has appeared in major films like “Horrible Bosses” and “Pacific Rim”
• Glenn Howerton led the NBC/Peacock sitcom “A.P. Bio” and stars in the upcoming Netflix series “Sirens”
• Danny DeVito continues his legendary career across multiple projects

The Magic Formula

When asked about the show’s longevity, Howerton noted that “It’s hard to say. It changes often, season to season.” This uncertainty might seem concerning to fans, but it’s actually part of what keeps the show vital. The cast’s willingness to regularly evaluate their commitment ensures they’re only making Sunny when they’re genuinely excited about it.

The fact that they continue to find “endless ways to explore the world through these characters” after 170 episodes is a testament to both the writing and the depth of these seemingly shallow characters. Whether they’re tackling current events, exploring new relationship dynamics, or just finding fresh ways to be absolutely terrible people, The Gang keeps surprising us.

Looking Ahead

With Season 17 set to premiere this July and the show already renewed through Season 18, fans can rest easy knowing we have at least two more seasons of Paddy’s Pub shenanigans ahead of us. The upcoming season will kick off with the highly anticipated Abbott Elementary crossover, showing that even after two decades, It’s Always Sunny is still finding innovative ways to expand its universe.

While the cast may regularly discuss ending the show, their continued enthusiasm and the endless possibilities within their morally bankrupt world suggest that The Gang’s story is far from over. As long as they’re “having such a blast,” we’ll keep getting the brilliantly inappropriate comedy that has made It’s Always Sunny a cultural phenomenon.

After all, in the words of The Gang themselves, they’ve got no intention of stopping anytime soon. And honestly? We wouldn’t want them to.