It’s always really hard to lose a beloved, longtime character so quickly, especially when the circumstances of their departures have nothing to do with the story-world of the show. When Sara Ramirez, who played Doctor Callie Torres on Grey’s Anatomy for over ten years, told fans that she would not be resigning for season thirteen of the blockbuster medical show, people were shocked.
Thankfully, the writers didn’t give Dr. Torres the same fate that they’ve given other main characters in the past, but nonetheless, she was gone forever. When someone that vital to a show leaves, just like that, it makes everything seem unstable–what’s stopping some other lead actors from falling suit?
Well, Grey’s Anatomy fans trembling from trepidation around the world, fear no more–everyone else at Seattle Grace Hospital is here to stay. The remainder of the main cast, which includes Chandra Wilson (who plays Bailey), Justin Chambers (who plays Alex), and James Pickens Jr. (who plays Richard), have all inked renewal contracts for Grey’s Anatomy‘s thirteenth season, The Hollywood Reporter reported today.
Along with these three, Kevin McKidd–who has regularly appeared as Owen Hunt for the last decade–also resigned for the show, as well as the inscrutable star of Grey’s Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo, who plays the show’s namesake Meredith Grey. Pompeo signed her contract on June 1st, Deadline reported.
This overall feeling of consistency bodes well for the hit medical show, which as of this year in its twelfth season skyrocketed to the top of the heap; for the 2015-16 span, Grey’s Anatomy became ABC’s highest-rated show amongst the heavily-targeted 18-49 demographic.
Of course, with a show that hot, the producers and writers can’t let things get cool. After all, there are two surefire ways to get fans talking, and after the major character death of Patrick Dempsey’s Derek last year, Grey’s Anatomy–though it’s been known to not be afraid to kill its darlings–it is unlikely that anyone important is going to perish again soon. That leaves, of course, getting the fans excited another way; adding new faces.
No one, unfortunately, has been confirmed yet to join the new season, but fortunately there is still plenty of time before the air date of season thirteen, which is likely to air sometime later this year.
There is, of course, more drama set to occur in the events of the new season. Season twelve’s finale concluded on the cusp of Owen and Amelia’s (Catelina Scorsone) wedding, and no one knows whether or not Owen actually went through with his vows. There has been some light teasing in the last couple days by some of the actors–well, one actress in particular–to keep fans’ heads spinning while they mull over the cliffhanger in the offseason.
Sandra Oh, who departed Grey’s Anatomy back in season ten, tweeted on Friday regarding the penultimate–or perhaps, not-so-set-in-stone wedding:
While this does make it look like maybe Christina Yang is going to be returning to the halls of Seattle Grace again, it looks like fans are going to just have to wait and see. At least it’s now certain that everyone else will be there.