Family Guy fans looks set to be confused once again after news has surfaced that Brian Griffin, the Family Guy character killed off in a recent episode of Family Guy, could be set to return for good. Brian the dog's death didn't go down particularly well when the episode, 'The Life of Brian,' was aired, with fans quickly creating petitions to have the loveable pooch brought back.

Family Guy Brian Stewie
Well, Is He Or Isn't He? 'Family Guy' Messes Fans Around?

It seems that makers of the show have taken heed of the uproarious reaction after Brian was shown getting hit by a car, dying on the operating table, then being buried to by the grief-stricken Griffins. To rub salt in the wound, the family were seen in the same episode going to a dog's home to pick up a new pet, Vinny, voiced by The Sopranos' Tony Sirico.

Speaking to E! Online last month, FG executive producer Steve Callaghan said that the plan to kill of Brian "was an idea that got pitched in the writers room and it sort of caught fire, and we thought it could be a fun way to shake things up. As soon as this idea came up, we started talking about what the next couple episodes could be and we got very excited about the way this change will affect the family dynamics and the characters."

Watch A Clip Of The Griffin's New Dog, Vinny:

Though sceptics predicted that the death was a publicity stunt to get everyone talking about the hit animated series, most fans accepted the news with sorrow and wondered what Vinny might bring to the show. However, Entertainment Weekly has discovered that Brian could be set to return to the cast full time by the 15th December.

The network have apparently refused to comment on how Brian will return but in an episode scheduled for next autumn, he falls in love with an avid runner voiced by Bridemaids' Maya Rudolph. "After Brian experiences the 'runner's high', he becomes a distance running douche, and even signs himself up to run a marathon," Callaghan told EW.

Family Guy
Brian Griffin Is Reportedly Set To Return To 'Family Guy' This Month.

The upcoming 15th December episode is apparently called 'Christmas Guy,' and the official logline for the episode explains that "Stewie devises a master plan to get the one and only thing he wants for Christmas," and Brian's name is included in the cast, reports IGN. How Brian will be brought back and whether he'll stay on as a fulltime character is not known but if he does make a full return, it will appear that the alcoholic dog's death was indeed a rather effective publicity stunt.