Deadline has been monitoring ABC’s broadcasting schedule closely, and recently the network finally set their Thursday schedule. One clear thing that has been confirmed is that Grey’s Anatomy will return for Season 23 without two long-term actors.
According to Deadline, Grey’s Anatomy is losing Kevin McKidd (Made of Honor, Trainspotting), who portrays Dr. Owen Hunt, and Kim Raver (Night at the Museum, Third Watch), who plays Dr. Teddy Altman. Both are exiting after 16 seasons ahead of their contracts expiring. The cast that is staying in the show, however, includes returning members Chandra Wilson (Station 19, Accidental Friendship) who plays Bailey, James Pickens Jr. (Seattle Grace, Just Wright) who plays Richard, Camilla Luddington (The Healer, The Pact II) who plays Jo, Caterina Scorsone (Private Practice, Missing) that plays Amelia, and Chris Carmack (The Stranger In My Home, Into the Blue 2: The Reef) who plays Link.
Deadline writes that while the other seasons had 18 episodes, it is assumed that season 23 has gone through budget cuts meaning it is unknown how many episodes it will have. Season 23 is supposed to go from 2026 to 2027. Last year, Grey’s Anatomy finished as the #1 streamed show across Disney+ and Hulu. It also was #2 when it was compared to Hulu and Netflix.
According to Deadline, Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo (Good American Family, Catch Me If You Can) returns as the narrator and lead. The production team is Shonda Rhimes (Private Practice, Scandal) and Betsy Beers (Black Barbie: A Documentary, 200 Cigarettes) of Shondaland, along with Meg Marinis — series showrunner — and director and returning actress Debbie Allen (Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, A Different World) and Pompeo.
Deadline announces that along with Grey’s Anatomy airing on Thursdays on ABC, other shows that join it are 9-1-1 and its spinoff 9-1-1: Nashville. Other shows that received renewals include High Potential and Abbott Elementary.
The season finale is set to air May 7, marking the end of McKidd and Raver’s tenures on the series.