The 12th and final season of "Bones" has an official premiere date, and is set to debut early next year.

Fox announced on Thursday that the show would finally be back on January 3, 2017. The season will consist of 12 episodes, and is being rebranded for its big farewell as "Bones: The Final Chapter."

The network also released the following tease for the season:

Throughout the final chapter, fans will see the return of fan-favorite guest stars and squinterns, as well as an old flame from one of the team's past. Fans also will experience a wedding, follow an epic serial killer storyline, go undercover in a lumberjack competition and see Booth (David Boreanaz) and Brennan's (Emily Deschanel) marriage get put to the test. As always, new guest stars will be introduced, as well as a final round of gory murders, from which brand-new investigations will arise.

In a statement, "Bones" creator Hart Hanson noted that the series would be Fox's longest-running scripted drama once it signed off, and credited the show's "insanely loyal, loud, lovely, lively audience" for its longevity.

"We've loved working on 'Bones' and are so excited to bring our fans this final season," added showrunners Jonathan Collier and Michael Peterson in another statement. "After 12 years on the air, it's an honor to be able to write the exciting and meaningful ending, which the show deserves."

[via: Entertainment Weekly]