The show must go on! After closing a deal with actress Ellen Pompeo, better known as Meredith Grey, ABC will move forward with its 19th season of Grey’s Anatomy.
With his new deal, Pompeo will continue on as the lead character, Meredith Grey, for one more year. She will also be upgraded from co-executive producer to executive producer. Her former co-executive producer Krista Vernoff will continue as the showrunner without executive producer credits.
Pompeo is one of three original cast members that will remain with the show heading into season 19. Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. have also signed deals to remain with the show for one more season. Despite the number of one-year contracts that ABC has finalized, the network has not indicated that this will be the show’s final season.
“Grey’s Anatomy is a true phenomenon, beloved by audiences around the world. Whether they catch it live on ABC, or stream it on Hulu or globally on Disney+ or Star+, it’s clear that fans can’t get enough of Shonda Rhimes’ brilliant creation,” Walt Disney Television Entertainment Chairman Dana Walden told Deadline.
“We have enormous faith in Shonda, Krista Vernoff, Ellen Pompeo and the entire creative team to unlock new, untold stories that will continue to focus on modern medicine, tackle the issues that shape the world around us, and resonate deeply with loyal fans for years to come.”
Season 18 of the show will continue on February 24, 2022. As for next season, Deadline reports that the show will “explore the ever-expanding world of modern medicine through the eyes of beloved returning and new characters.”
