{"id":244326,"date":"2026-06-04T22:45:52","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T22:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/04\/is-ellen-pompeo-returning-to-greys-anatomy-as-meredith-for-season-23-amid-surprise-cast-exits\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T22:45:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T22:45:52","slug":"is-ellen-pompeo-returning-to-greys-anatomy-as-meredith-for-season-23-amid-surprise-cast-exits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/04\/is-ellen-pompeo-returning-to-greys-anatomy-as-meredith-for-season-23-amid-surprise-cast-exits\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Ellen Pompeo Returning to \u2018Grey\u2019s Anatomy\u2019 as Meredith for Season 23 Amid Surprise Cast Exits?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Grey\u2019s Anatomy<\/em><\/a> has been through many surprise cast shakeups<\/a> \u2014 and more are expected to happen in the future \u2014 but is Ellen Pompeo<\/strong><\/a> planning to return as Meredith amid her new TV role?<\/p>\n

The medical drama, which premiered in 2005, is focused on the personal and professional<\/a> lives of surgical interns, residents and attendings at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital a.k.a Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital a.k.a Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.<\/p>\n

Pompeo, 56, played Meredith Grey since the show debuted and as a result, got to explore a multitude of shocking onscreen story lines. The biggest surprise, however, was when Pompeo announced in 2022 that she was going to take a reduced role on Grey\u2019s Anatomy in season 19.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to always be a part of that show,\u201d she told Deadline at the time. \u201cI\u2019m an executive producer. I spent two decades of my career on [Grey\u2019s Anatomy] \u2014 it\u2019s my heart and soul. I\u2019ll never truly be gone as long as [it\u2019s] on the air.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pompeo continued to executive produce and narrate every episode but her onscreen appearances decreased significantly. The decision came after Pompeo made headlines in December 2021<\/a> for saying she\u2019d \u201cbeen trying to focus on convincing everybody that [Grey\u2019s] should end.\u201d<\/p>\n

During an interview with Insider, she noted, \u201cI feel like I\u2019m the super naive one who keeps saying, \u2018But what\u2019s the story going to be, what story are we going to tell?\u2019 Everyone\u2019s like, \u2018Who cares, Ellen? It makes a gazillion dollars.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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ABC \/ Courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pompeo also hinted at the time that she was trying to figure out how Grey\u2019s<\/em> could survive without her.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cShonda [Rhimes] and I, I think \u2014 we\u2019ll see, we\u2019ll see,\u201d told Entertainment Tonight about whether the show will last without her down the line. \u201cTrying to reinvent the show and continually trying to reinvent the show is the challenge at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n

In more recent seasons, Meredith has been featured more<\/a> and fans even got to see a major milestone when she agreed to marry Dr. Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman<\/strong>) in the season 22 finale. While there has been no official word about how involved Pompeo will be in season 23, she is expected to return as Meredith\u2019s life keeps intertwining with those at the hospital.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Grey\u2019s Anatomy\u2019s Ellen Pompeo Through the Years<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tEllen Pompeo has had quite the career on Grey\u2019s Anatomy, which she has starred on since 2005. The actress was born in Everett, Massachusetts, in November 1969 and later made her television debut in 1996 on Law & Order. Pompeo went on to star in several notable films including 2002\u2019s Moonlight Mile and Catch Me [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

However, there has been concern since due to the nature of the show, Grey\u2019s Anatomy<\/em> has become known for its wild twists that often result in cast exits. Cost-cutting efforts have also been affecting scripted TV across the board recently as more shows continue to reduce screen time for main cast members \u2014 with Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd being the latest shocking departures.<\/p>\n

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