All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Soaps.com may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Now that Season 20 of Grey’s Anatomy has come to an end, fans are beginning to look ahead to next year. Season 21 is going to look a little different, however, and there will be multiple changes to the cast. Keep reading to see who’s leaving Grey’s Anatomy after Season 20 and who’s coming back.
Who’s leaving Grey’s Anatomy after Season 20?
While the cast for next season of Grey’s Anatomy has not been officially confirmed, we know that at least two cast members are exiting the medical drama and will not be back for Season 21. In early May 2024, news broke that Jake Borelli, who has starred as the dorky but lovable Dr. Levi Schmitt since Season 14, had been let go by ABC. The network’s decision was reportedly a financial one, with sources telling our sister site Deadline that the show’s renewal came with a significant budget cut amid its decline in linear ratings. Borelli will, however, appear in a few episodes of Season 21 to wrap Schmitt’s storyline.
In addition to Borelli, newcomer Midori Francis will be departing the series at the end of this season. The actress came on board in Season 19 as Dr. Mika Yasuda, one of five new surgical interns at Grey Sloan Memorial. It’s unclear why she is leaving so soon, but Deadline reported that her exit was an “amicable decision.” Francis is still in negotiations to appear in a few episodes of Season 21 as well.
More: The Grey’s Anatomy cast’s salaries per episode
As for the rest of the cast, TVLine reported that the contracts for nearly every veteran are up after this season and will need to be re-negotiated. This includes OG cast members Chandra Wilson, who plays Dr. Miranda Bailey, and James Pickens Jr., who portrays Dr. Richard Webber. Wilson will most likely return, considering she is also an executive producer, and Pickens Jr. doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, either. “They’ll probably wheel me out in a wheelchair,” he quipped during an April 2023 interview with Entertainment Tonight. Kevin McKidd, Kim Raver, Caterina Scorsone and Camilla Luddington’s futures on the show remain up in the air, however, which is also the case for several other cast members. With budget cuts looming, the network might axe other doctors from Schmitt and Yasuda’s respective resident classes, including Schmitt’s best friend Dr. Tayrn Helm (Jaicy Elliot), who’s storylines often involve Schmitt. Niko Tehro’s future is also unclear, as his character, Dr. Lucas Adams, received a job offer in Chicago during the penultimate episode. It’s unclear if Chris Carmack, who plays Dr. Atticus “Link” Lincoln, and Season 20 newcomer Natalie Morales, who plays Dr. Monica Beltran, are returning as well.
Ellen Pompeo, who stars as Dr. Meredith Grey, exited the show as a series regular in Season 19 but has continued to recur and provide each episode’s voiceovers. Season 21 should be no different, so fans can at least expect to see more of Meredith.
While the show is losing some beloved characters, they might be getting a few back now that Station 19 is ending. Several fans have theorized that Ben Warren (Jason George), Dr. Miranda Bailey’s husband and a firefighter at Station 19, will return to surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial after the series finale of the spin-off. This might also be the case for Dr. Carina DeLuca (Stefania Spampinato) and her wife, firefighter Maya Bishop (Danielle Savre).
Additionally, new showrunner Meg Marinis, who took over for Krista Vernoff at the end of Season 19, will be staying on for her second season. Marinis has been with Grey’s Anatomy since Season 3, working her way up from a writers’ PA to an executive producer, and now, the head position.
Grey’s Anatomy is available to stream on Hulu.
For more on Grey’s Anatomy, check out this gallery on the cast’s real-life partners.
ncG1vNJzZmirn5a9tHrSoZykpp%2BswG%2BvzqZmrKeRpcBwusSwqmhvY2eFeX6OsJ%2BoZZyarre1zaBkoKqVrsBurc2aq6ilqWLApq3SqKVmamBk