Former Grey’s Anatomy star Martin Henderson addresses a possible return to the show as Dr. Nathan Riggs. Introduced in season 12, Riggs became a key player at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital as a trauma surgeon and a love interest to Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Megan Hunt (Abigail Spencer). Henderson left the series in 2017 after two seasons and is now starring on Netflix’s Virgin River, which was recently renewed for a seventh season, making it Netflix’s longest-running current original scripted series.
Now, seven years after his quiet Grey’s Anatomy exit, Henderson considers the possibility of coming back. During a recent interview with Deadline, Henderson discussed the possibility of reprising his role as Nathan Riggs. While he hadn’t actively considered it, he noted his long working relationship with Shonda Rhimes, who had cast Henderson in two other ABC projects before recruiting him as a series regular for Grey’s Anatomy. Read his comments below:
I haven’t given it a lot of thought, just because I’ve been so committed and busy with Virgin River and some other stuff and life. But I think Shonda Rhimes has always been really supportive of me; we’ve actually worked together a bunch of times on different things, so I would always be open to the possibility. Again, if it fitted in with whatever else was going on in my life at the time and my career.
The actor continued to say he would be open to returning “as long as I felt that the character had something to do and I could give something because I don’t think they really knew what to do with Nathan.” Henderson had stepped in as Nathan following Patrick Dempsey’s surprise exit from the show and told Deadline that he never felt the character was defined. In his own words:
It was almost like a stopgap measure with the departure of Derek. It was like, oh, we need a love interest. And so he, and by virtue I, was dropped into this world, but I don’t think he was ever that defined. If I were to go back, I would have to make sure that there was a really clear plan for why he was there.
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What This Means for Riggs’ Future On Grey’s Anatomy
A Potential For Closure
Riggs’ potential return could offer an intriguing new storyline for the long-running series, especially given the evolving cast and ever-changing landscape of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. A reappearance could provide closure, as Riggs was last seen on a California beach with Megan and her son Farouk as they set out for a future together. However, Megan later returned in season 18 and revealed that she and Nathan had broken up. Riggs’ return could also offer a new layer to Megan’s ongoing narrative, or, although unlikely, it could also offer a dramatic turn to Meredith’s love life and relationship with Nick Marsh.
With Grey’s Anatomy’s many innovative ways to bring characters back, such as flashbacks, parallel narratives, or brand-new storylines, there are no shortage of ways to reintroduce Riggs. For Henderson, however, a return would depend on scheduling and the proper reason for Riggs to come back. With his current success on Virgin River, where he plays Jack Sheridan, finding time for a multi-episode arc on Grey’s could be a challenge. Nonetheless, Henderson’s openness to the idea still gives hope that viewers might see Nathan Riggs again, or at least get an update on his whereabouts.
Our Take On A Potential Nathan Riggs Return
The Door Is Still Open
While nothing is confirmed, Henderson’s willingness to make a potential comeback to Grey’s Anatomy is exciting news for those who have missed seeing Riggs on their screens. Bringing Riggs back could bridge past and present storylines, potentially satisfying longtime viewers while exploring how the character has grown since his exit.
Whether through a multi-episode arc or a single guest appearance, Riggs’ potential return could reignite nostalgia while providing some closure and advancing the ongoing narrative. As Grey’s Anatomy continues its legacy as one of television’s most beloved dramas and goes ahead with season 21, the possibility of seeing Riggs scrub in once again is a prospect worth keeping an eye out for.