It looks like one of entertainment’s most anticipated reunions might finally be happening. John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones are teasing major news to be announced on Thursday - with various media outlets reporting the press conference will see the confirmation of a full-fledged reunion event. It’s expected to take the form of a stage show.

Idle confirmed on Twitter that big news is incoming:

Only three days to go till the Python Press Conference. Make sure Python fans are alerted to the big forthcoming news event.

— Eric Idle (@EricIdle) November 18, 2013

Monty Python was famed for the group's surreal, wacky humour, although their productions were often noted for their low budgets, internal conflicts and behind-the-scenes turmoil. In Ireland, the group are best known for their religious satire The Life of Brian, which was banned here on initial release until the 1980s. The last full-fledged Monty Python production was the 1983 film The Meaning of Life. Python member Graham Chapman died in 1989. 

Although there have been numerous collaborations between the surviving members and scattered appearances over the last three decades, there has yet to be a full-on reunion. In 1999, all the Pythons participated in a BBC special celebrating the 30th anniversary of their iconic Flying Circus sketch show, but did not appear in the same room (Idle’s participation was minimal). All five did briefly appear on stage together to mark the premiere of the Spamalot musical in 2005, albeit at a non-performing capacity.

The Monty Python members have been far from inactive since going their separate ways. Most continued appearing in TV shows and films, with John Cleese particularly enjoying a busy acting schedule (particularly in-demand for animation voice work). Terry Gilliam emerged as an acclaimed film director, while Michael Palin has found a second calling as a popular travel writer and broadcaster. Eric Idle co-created Spamalot along with many other acting, directing and writing projects, and Terry Jones has also kept working on screenplays, films, documentaries, illustrations and books.

All the Pythons except for Gilliam participated in Jones’ 1996 cinematic adaptation of The Wind in the Willows, while Idle was the only former Python not involved in the recent animated film version of the late Chapman’s A Liar’s Autobiography.