Fans still looking for closure after Meredith Gray's departure may not need it after all. Ellen Pompeo made more appearances on Grey's Anatomy Season 21 than they expected.
The actor, who has played Dr. Meredith Gray since 2005, will appear in at least seven episodes of the new season, which is set to premiere in the fall of 2024, Variety reports. Pompeo's return follows a reduced role in seasons 19 and 20, with her character temporarily relocated to Boston.
The actor's return will likely be welcomed by longtime fans, especially considering Pompeo's 2022 tribute to her Grey's character reads like a farewell message.
"I am forever grateful and humbled by the love and support I've received from Meredith Grey, and the show for 19 seasons!" she wrote on Instagram at the time, before thanking her fans . "I love you madly and appreciate you immediately."
Pompeo's return isn't the only recent update on "Grey's Anatomy" casting. It was reported in June that Jason George would return to Gray Sloan in Season 21 as Dr. Ben Warren. George has played the character on and off since Season 6, but left his regular role on the series to launch Grey's Anatomy's firefighter spinoff Station 19 in 2018.
Deadline reported in May that Jake Borelli is exiting the hit medical drama after seven seasons as Levi Schmitt. Although unconfirmed, a source revealed to the outlet that Borelli will briefly return for a few episodes to wrap up his character's story.
At the same time, Midori Francis, who has played Mika Yasuda since season 19, will also leave the show. Similar to Borrelli, she is reportedly negotiating to return next season to wrap up Mika's story.
Amid the cast changes, Disney Television Group president Craig Urovich recently said Grey's Anatomy is in "really good shape" as it heads into its landmark 21st season.
"We just celebrated the 20th season of Grey's Anatomy , making it the longest-running medical drama on television," he told Deadline. “I think the show is creative and continues to be very popular — if not the most popular show of the last few seasons.”
