Are We Getting Extra Meredith in ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ Season 21? Showrunner Explains

Ever since Ellen Pompeo (Good American Household) type of left the primary solid of Grey’s Anatomy, the Gray Sloan Memorial Hospital has acquired visits from its title character Meredith Grey at common intervals, however followers by no means understand how lengthy it is going to be till they see their favourite TV physician once more. Within the present season, Meredith was alongside for the trip within the first three episodes, however then she was gone once more. Regardless that we maintain listening to her voice as she continues to relate each episode, followers can not help however surprise: is Meredith coming back for more in Season 21? Showrunner Meg Marinis has the reply to that.

Throughout an interview with LA Times, Marinis was fairly easy concerning the future of Meredith in the series. The showrunner underscored the beforehand launched data that Pompeo was pinned down for seven episodes this season. Moreover, Marinis revealed that we should always consider Meredith’s participation in future Gray’s Anatomy episodes as fully-developed story arcs, which is why the concept is to not deliver her for one-episode participations. She acknowledged:

“We’ve aired three together with her, so that you not less than have 4 extra and I’m simply gonna let y’all proceed to observe to see what else you get. With Ellen, we at all times need her to be right here as a lot as she will be able to and she or he needs. That’s an open dialog transferring ahead. After this season, we have now but to have these conversations as a result of her present [‘Good American Family’] is about to premiere. However we wish her right here as a lot as doable as a result of she is the essence of the present; her voiceover, it’s nonetheless in each episode. What we did this final season, we tried to have a look at her episodes as teams of episodes as a result of it’s extra enjoyable to inform an arc with Meredith, fairly than a bunch of various one-offs.”

There Will At all times Be A Spot For Meredith In ‘Gray’s Anatomy’

Picture by way of ABC

Marinis additionally revealed that she has a smooth spot for Meredith’s relationship with Nick (Scott Speedman) as a result of she loves the concept of Meredith “with the ability to discover love after Derek (Patrick Dempsey),” who died again in Season 11 in one of many most shocking episodes within the historical past of Gray’s Anatomy. Marinis added that she is a fan of Speedman, and hinted that he’ll return for Meredith’s arcs at any time when doable.

The showrunner’s feedback mirrors an interview from early 2024 wherein she acknowledged that the staff has “an open door coverage” with Ellen Pompeo, which means that the actor can return as many occasions as she needs and at any time when she is obtainable to wash in. Fortunately for followers, Marinis underscored that Pompeo “cares very deeply for the present,” which implies that she will never really be gone — and we’ll maintain listening to her voice narrating episodes for the foreseeable future.

ABC rolls out new episodes of Gray’s Anatomy on Thursdays. You may as well stream the collection on Hulu.

Grey’s Anatomy

Launch Date: March 27, 2005
Community: ABC
Administrators: Rob Corn, Kevin McKidd, Debbie Allen, Chandra Wilson, Allison Liddi-Brown, Jeannot Szwarc, Tony Phelan
Writers: Shonda Rhimes, Julie Wong, Jen Klein, Tameson Duffy, Meg Marinis