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 Release Date Is Revealed
No cast member has been announced yet, but with the September release date looming, the news will likely be broken soon.
Just a few days after the release date for the upcoming season was announced, the latest news confirms a new cast member will Grey’s Anatomy season 21. Coming ahead of the planned exit of Mika Yasuda (Midori Francis) and Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli), the newest season has added a new Chaplain character who is described as openly gay and a superhero fanboy. No cast member has been announced yet, but with the September release date looming, the news will likely be broken soon.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Release Date
Season 21 Premieres In September
Showing off the fast-paced schedule that network TV keeps for the most anticipated shows, ABC has already scheduled the season premiere of Grey’s Anatomy season 21. The pillar of procedural TV is slated to return on Thursday, September 26, at 10pm. Grey’s lost its old timeslot of 9pm to Ryan Murphy’s new medical drama, Doctor Odyssey.
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. Though she departed as a full-time cast member after season 19, Ellen Pompeo will appear in 7 episodes of season 21 as Dr. Grey. 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 main change is Scott Speedman’s exit as Dr. Nick Marsh, who is leaving the series as his character moves to Boston with Meredith. Mika Yasuda (Midori Francis) and Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli) are also confirmed to be exiting the series this season.
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. Another incoming character has also been announced, described as a new chaplain, who is openly gay and a superhero fan. The actor playing this new chaplain has yet to be revealed.
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 it 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.