Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Is Bringing Back Ellen Pompeo in a Big Way
Charlie Mason
Editor
The Grey is being put back into Grey’s Anatomy in Season 21. Ellen Pompeo is set to appear in seven of the long-running ABC drama’s 18 episodes, our sister site Deadline reports (and TVLine has confirmed). What’s more, that number could grow to as many as 14 shows.
The actress, who has played Meredith Grey since the series’ premiere, ceased to be a full-timer midway through Season 19, when her character moved to Boston with her children. (Scott Speedman’s on-again/off-again love interest Nick Marsh soon followed.) However, Pompeo continued to serve as Grey’s narrator and an executive producer. In the writers’- and actors’-strikes-shortened Season 20, she appeared in five of the 10 episodes that were produced.
The news of the OG’s increased presence in the upcoming season comes as Grey’s Anatomy faces what could be a significant cast overhaul. Already, it’s been disclosed that Jake Borelli (Levi Schmitt) and Midori Francis (Mika Yasuda) will only be returning for long enough to wrap up their characters’ story arcs. And in April, TVLine confirmed that new contracts had yet to be drawn up for the series’ vets, Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey), James Pickens Jr. (Richard Webber), Kevin McKidd (Owen Hunt), Kim Raver (Teddy Altman), Caterina Scorsone (Amelia Shepherd) and Camilla Luddington (Jo Wilson).
On the positive side, Jason George will be crossing his Station 19 character — Bailey’s husband, Ben Warren — back over to Grey’s Anatomy, where the surgical resident-turned-firefighter started. He won’t just be a guest star, either, but a series regular.
Grey’s Anatomy is the longest-running primetime medical drama in (U.S.) TV history, a milestone it reached in 2019. It also is the longest-running primetime series in ABC’s history.
Are you looking forward to more, more Mer in Season 21? Comment away.
It would be absolutely bonkers if they announce Jason George as a regular again, but then can’t come to terms with Chandra Wilson
I’m sure most contracts are worked out, they just haven’t been announced yet. It’s safe to assume everyone aside from Levi and Yasuda will be returning. The writers are already reconvened and pre-production has started, they’re going to be filming in early August.
Oh, less reason to watch the show, and if certain of those not yet picked up contracts are not picked up, even less reason to watch the show (but if you decide not to bring back teddy and owen, that’s a plus)
If you bring back ben warren but not his wife that’s just a bad look
Great news. I loved her storyline in 20, but it could definitely use some flashing out.
I hope she will have a proper arc with the episodes back to back in a row because the way Meredith did pop one episode and then not and then again last season was a but confusing.
The real news here is the episode count of the season ! Except for out of control event like strikes or covid, the show never had less than 20 episodes per season. This is a big change !!!! Means a huge hiatus I guess, and that the budget cut might be drastic! I’m not against short seasons but when 25 episodes per seasons seems a lot, 20 felt kind of right for this show. Nonetheless, I just hope will get good stories next year and maybe finally one new central character to focus on, and link all the characters together because with Meredith away, (even before the official departure, let’s be honest, she was always somewhere else or on a beach) the show is kind of a mess. A pretty adorable and smart mess, but still a mess!!!
Why the heck did they make such a big deal of her leaving the show a couple seasons ago if she never really left. Plus if they’re so worried about the cost of the show having her gone would sure save money.
Wasn’t she working on outside projects? I guess they didn’t pan out
The outside project got delayed longer than she assumed or they probably assumed when they planned for the absence. Probably due to the strike, but she has been filming it and is due to finish this week, which makes her have the ability to appear in more episodes of Grey’s Anatomy. It’s going to be interesting to see how they deal with it, but she did have a outside project.
Presumably filming has to start soon so surely there should be resolution to the issue of who is getting a new contract any day now. I don’t personally get the hate for Owen and Teddy but I would say that there is no real story left for them and it would make sense to move them on. Caterina also has to be vulnerable after they put her new love interest with Winston in one of the most crass twists in the history of the show.
It was April when it was confirmed that no deals were made yet, so probably there has been a deal to be able to write for the upcoming season. Yeah, filming should be resuming sometime in the next few weeks, and Ellen will be finished with her other project at the end of this week. Maybe for once, they are trying to keep a secret so they don’t give away the “everyone is fired plot line”, so we have to tune it see who is coming back. Even though we assume everyone is. If Ben is back, we are to assume Bailey will be back. And we know there is four less episodes for each of the characters. Wonder if Meredith’s job in Boston is in peril after her actions last season, and she comes back to the hospital more often. The hospital that she owns part of. Will Zola be at boarding school, and she and the kids come back to the house. Or will be commuting back and forth, although it would be hard if she’s in as as much as 14 out of the 18 episodes.
I must admit I was wfine with Ellen in minor capacity.
As long as the has a good story…
I hope this means it’ll be the final season, I know some are seen as trolls saying this but I’ve watched since EP 1 and absolutely this show should have ended years ago and gone out on a good note for the fans and in quality but networks and the show heads are greedy and keep milking a shriveled shell.
Oh my God, please don’t get rid of Bailey and Richard. I don’t care about Teddy. I don’t care about Amelia. I don’t care about Owen but not Bailey and Richard. 🥺😩
I agree. They are like the mother and father of the family.
I am sad to see glasses go I would also be overjoyed and ecstatic if you brought Christina back and I love that Mary is going to be back more often. I am One of the biggest grays anatomy fans ever me and my daughter actually have bracelets that say you’re my Meredith you’re my Christina love love love this show I don’t ever want to end
If she just dosent come back they can use her huge salary for others. Just a thought, I know I’ll be bash for this.
I completely agree. She’s getting paid exponentially for her character’s name being an integral part of the SHOW not because she’s a great actress who created a believable character. The other cast and writers made this show the success it is DESPITE Ellen’s acting not because of it. Keep her out.
Looking forward to the new season!! Can’t wait!!
Can’t wait for the new season to start!
Can’t wait for the new season to start!!
I love more meridith, but if webber and/bailey leave I will stop watching. Bailey is my favorite!!!
Nice to see Ellen Pompeo appearing in more episodes, I am a super loyal fan of Grey’s BUT Season 20 was a huge disappointment, too many key people are gone and I have been losing interest, much to my dismay, hopefully things improve soon
I hate that Ellen Pompeo is returning to the screen. Her portrayal of the character, Meredith Grrey, makes the character seem whiny and shallow. Watching the show and the issues it presents via all the other characters is much more plausible and entertaining.
I’m more interested in the new interns now. Meredith interacts with such a limited number of cast members, it’s like she is on her own show.
Yesssss cannot wait for the show to return and seeing where the characters take us.
I absolutely love the show. I have watched it every year since it’s beginning. As a health science professor, my students & I always started the day catching up on the show. I appreciate the variety of cases & the various careers this medical drama has exposed students to. This show touches lives in many ways across the lifespan. Thank you to all who help make it great.