Ellen Pompeo starred as Meredith Gray in Grey’s Anatomy for 18 seasons, starting in 2005. Although the actress will return in season 19, her role will be limited to just eight episodes of the usual 20-23 episode run. However, she will continue to narrate the series and serve as an executive producer. The loss of the character will come as a huge shock to the long-running show, with fans wondering if it’s time to retire the white coats and scrubs after more than 400 episodes in all.
ABC takes a different route, choosing to add a new batch of interns to the series, hoping to revitalize Grey’s Anatomy for the coming years. Deadline spoke to Pompeo as she attended the D23 Expo, and the actress discussed passing on the baton to the next generation with Season 19.
“We’re really trying to set it up for the next generation. I’m really excited for them, they’re all great actors, they’ve got a great attitude and they’re really excited to be there, and so we’re really excited to be there.” to have them, and we’re just thankful that these kids wanted to join in and they’re really excited to be there and excited to tell these stories so it helps to keep it fresh when there are new people it helps all of us that have been there since the beginning, it helps to keep it new and fresh, so we’re really grateful to them and I think everyone is going to love them.”
The new cast includes Adelaide Kane, Harry Shum Jr., Alexis Floyd, Niko Terho and Midori Francis. Fans can see how the cast compares to the original when Season 19 of Grey’s Anatomy premieres on ABC and streams on Hulu next month, October 6.
Ellen Pompeo Says She’ll Never Really Leave Grey’s Anatomy
Ellen Pompeo Spent Nearly Two Decades With Grey’s Anatomy, and the actress will find it difficult to leave the series. Although her role has been cut, she tells Deadline that she will never really be gone until the show is off the air.
“I don’t know how much I can give away, you know, I can never say they don’t like it when I say it. But listen, the new season is going to be fun. We have such a formula there and the fans know what to expect You know, it’ll be more of what we’re good at. Some laughter and some tears, and I’ll be fine without me. I’m still going to do the voiceover and everyone can come and see me on Hulu. Hopefully the fans go come with me I know there’s no guarantee of that But I’m going to put the same heart and passion into that It’s only eight small episodes so it won’t take up too much of your time And I’ll come back to Gray’s for the finale, and we’ll see if we can keep it up. I’ll always be a part of that show, I’m an executive producer on that show, I’ve got two decades of my career on that show. It’s my heart and soul, and I’ll never really be gone while that show is on the air.”
Fans may be happy to hear that she’ll be in the Season 19 finale, especially if that’s going to be the series finale. Pompeo’s next project is an untitled series similar to the Orphan films, which follow a Midwestern couple who adopt a girl with dwarfism. However, she may not be who she claims, and the couple will fight in court, in tabloids and in their own marriage.