Vernoff said in a statement, “I’m excited to work with our extraordinary writers to dream up where we go from here, and I’m always grateful to our partners at Disney and ABC for letting us tell bold stories with real impact.” Creator Shonda Rhimes, who handed the reins of the show over to Vernoff in Season 14, said of the renewal news, “I couldn’t be more excited that we get to keep telling the stories of Meredith, Bailey, Richard and all of the other doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial for another season. This is a true testament to Krista, the cast, the crew and all the writers who keep the audience on the edge of their seat week after week. And it would not be possible without the generations of incredible fans who have supported Grey’s Anatomy for so many years.” What’s in store for Meredith and the rest of the doctors at Grey Sloan when Season 19 kicks off later this year? Here’s everything we know so far about Grey’s Anatomy Season 19.
What will Season 19 of Grey’s Anatomy be about?
According to the network, Season 19 of Grey’s Anatomy “will explore the ever-expanding world of modern medicine through the eyes of beloved returning and new characters.” Of course, that vague description could be used to describe every season of the show, so it doesn’t tell us much about what to expect. That’s understandable though, since Season 18 is still airing, and if the past is any indication, it’s likely to have a number of surprises up its sleeve before Season 19 arrives. However, we can assume that, like Season 18, Season 19 of Grey’s Anatomy will take place in a fictional post-COVID world. After focusing heavily on the coronavirus pandemic for Season 17, the series decided to diverge from our present reality for Season 18, airing a disclaimer with each episode that reads, “This season, Grey’s Anatomy portrays a fictional, post-pandemic world which represents our hopes for the future. In real life, the pandemic is still ravaging the medical community.”
Which cast members are returning for Season 19 of Grey’s Anatomy?
So far, in addition to Pompeo, who plays Dr. Meredith Grey, fellow original cast members Chandra Wilson (Dr. Miranda Bailey) and James Pickens Jr. (Dr. Richard Webber) are also expected to return for Season 19, after signing new multi-year contracts in May 2021. In 2019, cast members Kim Raver (Dr. Teddy Altman), Camilla Luddington (Dr. Jo Wilson), and Kevin McKidd (Dr. Owen Hunt) also inked three-year contracts that would carry them through Season 19. However, that isn’t a guarantee that their characters will necessarily make it that long; Grey’s is well known for writing off characters who still have time left on their actors’ contracts. With Owen’s fate hanging in the balance following the mid-season finale of Season 18, there’s no telling yet whether McKidd will be returning for Season 19. There’s also no word yet on whether the rest of the Season 18 cast will be returning for Season 19, although it seems safe to assume most of them will be. Series regulars for Season 18 also included Kelly McCreary as Dr. Maggie Pierce, Caterina Scorsone as Dr. Amelia Shepherd, Jake Borelli as Dr. Levi Schmitt, Chris Carmack as Dr. Atticus Lincoln, Richard Flood as Dr. Cormac Hayes, Anthony Hill as Dr. Winston Ndugo and Scott Speedman as Dr. Nick Marsh.
When will Season 19 of Grey’s Anatomy return?
Although we don’t yet have a firm premiere date for Season 19, new seasons of Grey’s typically begin airing in the fall, so it seems safe to assume the new season will begin sometime in the fall of 2022.
Will Season 19 be the last season of Grey’s Anatomy?
Speculation has been rampant for years now that each new season of Grey’s will be the last, although ABC has routinely stated that they’ll keep airing new episodes as long as the show’s creativeteam is willing to make them. However, Pompeo seems to be nearing the end of her willingness to continue playing the character she’s embodied since 2005. “I’ve been trying to focus on convincing everybody that it should end,” she told Insider in December 2021. But it sounds like the people she’s talking to aren’t on board with her desire to wrap up the series. “I feel like I’m the super naive one who keeps saying, ‘But what’s the story going to be, what story are we going to tell?’” she said. “And everyone’s like, ‘Who cares, Ellen? It makes a gazillion dollars.’” So while Season 19 could be the last we see of Meredith, we wouldn’t recommend placing your bets just yet. If there’s one thing Grey’s Anatomy has taught us, it’s to not count out Meredith Grey too early.
Is there a trailer for Season 19 of Grey’s Anatomy?
Not yet, and there probably won’t be for a while—but check back here for updates?
What happened in Season 18 of Grey’s Anatomy?
Since Season 18 is still ongoing, we don’t yet know where Meredith and the other characters will be by the end of the season. However, as of the midway point of Season 18, Meredith is commuting to Minnesota to develop a groundbreaking surgical treatment for Parkinson’s disease, funded by renowned neurosurgeon David Hamilton (Peter Gallagher). She’s been aided in her efforts by her sister (in law) Amelia (Scorsone), and new character Dr. Kai Bartley (E.R. Fightmaster). While in Minnesota, Meredith has also begun dating transplant surgeon, Nick. Back in Seattle, Miranda and Richard have been revamping the hospital’s intern training program by introducing the “Webber Method,” which allows surgical residents more autonomy and independence during surgical procedures. Unfortunately, in the mid-season finale, Levi and Taryn got overly confident during a procedure while alone in the operating room, resulting in the death of their patient. Other storylines in Season 18 have included the painful breakup between Amelia and Link following the birth of their son, Dr. Jo’s specialty switch to obstetrics, and Owen’s endeavors to provide medical care (and, we find out in the Season 18 mid-season finale, physician assisted suicide in certain cases) to veterans with chronic health issues. However, the mid-season finale also saw Owen tumble off a cliff in a wrecked car after sending his new bride Teddy to safety and entrusting Cormac with his secret about the veterans. So where that storyline goes will likely depend on whether Owen survives the fall.
Where to watch past seasons of Grey’s Anatomy
Every episode of Seasons 1-17 of Grey’s Anatomy is currently streaming on Netflix, with Season 18 episodes available to stream on Hulu the day after they air on ABC. The most recent episodes of Season 18 are also available to watch online at ABC.com. Next, looking for something to watch while you wait for Grey’s Anatomy to return from its winter hiatus? Check out our list of midseason shows.
