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| Showrunner: | Meg Marinis |
| Network: | ABC |
| Num Episodes: | 8 |
The twenty-first season of the American medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy was announced on April 2, 2024, and premiered in the United States on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) on September 26, 2024.[1]
Although announced as departing during the season, Jake Borelli and Midori Francis retain their series regular status. Both have been series regulars since the sixteenth and nineteenth seasons, respectively.[2] Jason George was repromoted as series regular following the conclusion of Station 19.[3]
See also: List of Grey's Anatomy cast members and List of Grey's Anatomy characters.
See also: List of Grey's Anatomy episodes.
On April 2, 2024, ABC renewed the series for a twenty-first season with Meg Marinis returning as showrunner. On July 9, it was announced that the network had ordered 18 episodes for the season.[6] It premiered in the United States on September 26, 2024.[7]
Ahead of the twenty-first season, a number of long-term series regulars signed new contracts to return. Among these were two of three original cast members — Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. — as well as others, including Kevin McKidd, Kim Raver, Caterina Scorsone, and Camilla Luddington.[8] As a cost-cutting measure, the number of episodes each of these series regular is entitled to in their contract, was reduced.[9] To further lower production costs, Jake Borelli who portrays Dr. Levi Schmitt and who joined the show in season 14, was announced to be departing the series. It was also reported that Midori Francis would be leaving the series after two years of portraying Dr. Mika Yasuda to pursue other opportunities. Both Borelli and Francis are set to appear in a limited number of episodes to provide closure to their characters storylines.[10] [11] Series regulars Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. were also promoted to co-executive producers.
After starring in a reduced capacity across the previous two seasons, Ellen Pompeo is expected to increase her appearances, appearing in at least seven, but up to a maximum of fourteen, of the seasons episodes as the titular character, Dr. Meredith Grey.[12] Former series regular Scott Speedman is also set to see an increased presence in the season as Grey's love interest, Dr. Nick Marsh. He guest stars in at least five episodes. Speedman was part of the main cast for the eighteenth and nineteenth seasons, but was demoted to the recurring cast ahead of the previous season.[13] Following the conclusion of spin-off series Station 19, Jason George returned to Grey's Anatomy as a series regular to portray Dr. Ben Warren.[14] George first appeared in the series in season 6 and was promoted to the main cast in season 12. He then left in season 14 to join Station 19 ensemble cast, where he remained for the entirety of that program's run. During this time, George continued to recur on Grey's Anatomy.[15]
Michael Thomas Grant was cast in a recurring role to portray an openly gay chaplain.[16] Kali Rocha also reprise her role in three episodes as Dr. Sydney Heron, after a 17-year absence in the series. Rocha originally recurred in eight episodes of the series across the second, third, and fourth seasons.[17]