Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy, talks about Ellen Pompeo’s departure and a possible comeback. The show has been on TV since time immemorial, but Rhimes left the main role in 2015 and now only works as a producer.
Grey’s Anatomy has always focused on Meredith Grey, played by Pompeo, but she had less screen time in season 19. She also quit her Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital job and moved to Boston. However, that doesn’t mean we won’t see Meredith again on Grey’s Anatomy.
Rhimes weighs in on Pompeo’s choice to leave Grey’s Anatomy amid uncertainty about the show’s future. She tells Entertainment Tonight that she respects Pompeo’s desire to explore other opportunities and that she does not rule out the chance of her returning.
See what Rhimes had to say about Pompeo’s Grey’s Anatomy exit below:
Ellen’s spectacular, and I think she deserves a little bit of creative time that’s different from what she’s been doing. She’s been doing this job — I mean, nobody expected the show to go this many seasons. We’re entering the 20th season, so she deserves the break and gets the chance to do something else… And if she wants to come back, she comes back.
Meredith’s life after Grey Sloan is full of possibilities and challenges, and we wonder what would make her return to Grey’s Anatomy.
She left Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman) hanging when she moved to Boston, but maybe they still have a chance. Meredith gave up being Chief of Surgery after only half a year, putting her family first. She also wanted to keep researching Alzheimer’s and give Zola a better education.
Pompeo is said to appear in the Grey’s Anatomy season 19 finale, but it is unclear if she will return after that. She will still have a role behind the scenes as an executive producer and a narrator for future episodes.
The show will focus on Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.), and some new interns, so Meredith might not be essential for season 20. However, it is still hard to picture Grey’s Anatomy without her.
Pompeo hinted at her Grey’s Anatomy comeback, but it is unclear if she means season 20 or not.
Fans were unhappy with her character’s last scene, so giving her a proper goodbye in the future makes sense. Those who want to know more about Pompeo’s possible comeback can surely keep up with Grey’s Anatomy as it airs.
About Grey’s Anatomy
Grey’s Anatomy is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into seasoned doctors while balancing personal and professional relationships.
The series revolves around Ellen Pompeo’s character, Dr. Meredith Grey, until halfway through its 19th season, after which it shifts to a more ensemble format, with Pompeo only appearing in 8 episodes of season 19. Grey is first featured as an intern and later becomes the chief of general surgery while showcasing the complications of a surgeon’s life.
Grey’s Anatomy is the longest–running scripted primetime show currently airing on ABC, and the longest-scripted primetime series carried by ABC. It is considered to have had a significant effect on popular culture and has received numerous awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama, and a total of 38 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including two for Outstanding Drama Series.
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