Billy Baldwin is reprising his role as Serena's father William on Gossip Girl, sources confirm.

He will return to the series in the 17th episode of the current fifth season, set to air sometime in February or March (the winter premiere January 16 marks just the 11th episode of Season Five).

Details are under wraps, and still being worked out, but we do know that "a crisis brings him back into the fold."

Let your imaginations run wild with that one in the comments below ...

As we said earlier, Gossip Girl kicks off the second half of Season 5 a week from Monday, picking up in the aftermath of the insane, life-altering, papparrazzi-triggered car crash that closed out 2011.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.