All We Know So Far

Even after its landmark twentieth season, Shonda Rhimes’ Grey’s Anatomy already has a Season 21 in the works. Despite Ellen Pompeo’s big sendoff in the 2023 midseason premiere, she has continued to appear in the following seasons.

The Shonda Rhimes’ procedural drama series debuted on March 27, 2005, on ABC, and it continues to draw audiences even as it approaches two decades on air. Fans curious about the 21 ^st season of the medical show can find out everything we know below.

Season 21 is set to arrive on September 26 at 10 p.m. on ABC. The show’s renewal was confirmed in April 2024.

Deadline hears that the expectation for Season 21 is 18 episodes, compared to the 10-episode 20 ^th season, which was impacted by the double strike in Hollywood in 2023.

Yes, Ellen Pompeo is set to return for the next season. Deadline last heard that she will be in at least seven episodes, with the potential for more.

According to Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Meg Marinis, “She’s always a huge part of the show; we have an open-door policy with her. When she is able to be here, we welcome her with open arms. She’s constantly in my head, her voice.”

Deadline exclusively reported that Jason George is rejoining Grey’s Anatomy as a series regular for Season 21. Jake Borelli, who has played Levi Schmitt for the past five seasons as a series regular and two seasons before that starting in Season 14, will be departing as a series regular ahead of Season 21. Midori Francis, who played intern Mika Yasuda, is also departing as a series regular after appearing in two seasons. Both Borelli and Francis will appear in multiple episodes in Season 21 to wrap up their characters’ arcs.

Original cast members Chandra Wilson (Bailey), James Pickens Jr. (Richard), Kevin McKidd (Owen), Kim Raver (Teddy), Camilla Luddington (Jo), and Caterina Scorsone (Amelia) will all return as series regulars. However, they will not appear in a few episodes as part of a budget reduction.

The Season 20 finale, titled “Burn It Down,” featured a massive wildfire that sent scores of victims to Grey Sloan Hospital. The jobs of many doctors hung in the balance by the end of that final episode — including Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), Amelia (Caterina Scorsone), Teddy (Kim Raver), and Owen (Kevin McKidd).

Catherine Fox (Debbie Allen) also tried to make Adams repeat his first year as an intern, but the rest of the class defended him. Bailey challenged Fox’s notion that she could replace anyone at any time.

Source: Deadline