After the premiere of the show’s landmark 20th season, all eyes look to the future as Grey’s Anatomy season 21 has already been announced. Debuting in 2005, the smash-hit ABC medical drama follows the doctors and nurses of a fictional hospital in Seattle as they respond to all sorts of health emergencies while still trying to balance their complicated personal lives. Even though the series has undergone major changes since its debut, it still dominates the ratings and is a bona fide TV institution year after year.
The popularity has grown beyond the main series and three Grey’s Anatomy spinoffs have expanded the world of the Shonda Rhimes-created program. Though the series has seen changes from the outset, season 20 marks the biggest change of all as star Ellen Pompeo has largely stepped away from the show after playing the role of Dr. Meredith Grey for the first 19 seasons. While Pompeo isn’t gone for good, her departure is the biggest test of Grey’s Anatomy’s staying power, and season 20 ushers in a new era. Proving it’s popularity, Grey’s Anatomy season 21 is coming soon.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Latest News
A Station 19 Star Returns
As changes continue to rock the foundation of the long-running medical drama, the latest news confirms that a Station 19 star will return to Grey’s Anatomy for season 21. According to Variety, actor Jason George is making the jump back to Grey’s after the conclusion of the spinoff, Station 19. George has played the role of Dr. Ben Warren since season 6 of Grey’s Anatomy, but his character moved over to Station 19 starting 2018. Now that the aforementioned spinoff is over, Dr. Warren will become a series regular once again.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Is Confirmed
ABC Renewed The Show While Season 20 Was Still Airing
Since season 21 hasn’t been announced as the final season, it can be assumed ABC has plans for more.
In a move that isn’t surprising at all, ABC opted to renew Grey’s Anatomy for season 21, just a few weeks after season 20 premiered. The decision is something of a no-brainer, and the tectonic changes between season 19 and season 20 have done little to diminish the show’s gargantuan fanbase. Since season 21 hasn’t been announced as the final season, it can be assumed ABC has plans for more.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Cast
Will Dr. Grey & The Rest Of The Staff Return In Season 21?
Despite shakeups in the cast across seasons 19 and 20, the cast of Grey’s Anatomy season 21 will likely remain largely intact to preserve continuity. Ellen Pompeo’s season 19 departure was a massive change, and her sporadic cameo appearances will likely slow down as the show moves forward without her. Though a major death or shocking departure is always possible, season 21 will look a lot like season 20 in terms of its main cast. The only confirmed change is Scott Speedman’s exit as Dr. Nick Marsh, who is leaving the series as his character moves to Boston with Meredith.
Season 20 features a few returns such as Jessica Capshaw reprising her role as Dr. Arizona Robbins and Alex Landi as Dr. Nico Kim, but it is unclear if they will stay on for season 21. Other returns are possible, and Grey’s Anatomy has seemingly been bringing back legacy characters to help soften the blow of Ellen Pompeo’s departure from the series. One confirmed newcomer for season 21 is the return of Jason George as Dr. Ben Warren. George left Grey’s to star in the spinoff, Station 19, back in 2018 but will be a series regular once again following the spinoff’s cancelation.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Story
Major Cliffhangers After Season 20
As expected, the ending of Grey’s Anatomy season 20 was turbulent and filled with twists, and its sets up a lot of drama for season 21. Perhaps most shockingly, Meredith turned in her resignation and allowed the NIH to publish Alzheimer’s research. This decision will have massive fallout going forward, and could even be the true swan song for the long-running character. Likewise, Catherine firing Teddy, Owen, and Amelia will probably not sit well with the rest of the hospital, especially after Teddy’s heroics during surgery. Unsurprisingly, Grey’s Anatomy season 21 is shaping up to be the most explosive outing in years.