Scrubbing Back in! Everything We Know So Far About Season 18 of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Credit: ABC (3)

Scrubbing Back in! Everything We Know So Far About Season 18 of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Paging Dr. Meredith Grey to ABC’s fall primetime lineup! After season 17 was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, the network officially renewed the long-running medical drama for a new season in May 2021. A month later, ABC confirmed that its season finale was the week’s “No.1 entertainment series” among adults.

“Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy have done an incredible job of honoring real-life heroes by giving audiences an unflinching look at one of the biggest medical stories of our time,” Hulu Originals & ABC Entertainment president Craig Erwich said via a statement at the time. “Krista [Vernoff] and her team of writers have continued to deliver the compelling and compassionate storytelling that is a hallmark of these shows, and created some of the year’s most-talked-about moments in television. We’re so grateful to our talented casts and crews for their extraordinary work that connects with viewers everywhere, and we look forward to sharing even more defining moments with our fans next season.”

The show’s renewal was confirmed after fan-favorite stars Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, Camilla Luddington and more inked fresh contracts to return to the hallowed halls of Grey Sloan Memorial after season 17 saw the departure of two series regulars. In the midst of the COVID-focused season, both Jesse Williams (Jackson Avery) and Giacomo Gianniotti (Andrew DeLuca) were written out.

“Giacomo has brought so much talent and so much heart to the role of Andrew DeLuca,” Vernoff wrote in a statement via her Instagram in March 2021. “We at Grey’s Anatomy are grieving the death of this character with all of you. Giacomo played him so beautifully and took him on such a powerful journey — from intern, to romantic, to a mental health crisis and back again. … Thank you Giacomo for your performance, your talent, your grace.”

Throughout season 17, many familiar faces also returned to the show to reunite with Pompeo’s Meredith Grey during a beach dream sequence while she suffered from COVID-19. Fans were delighted to see Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) and George O’Malley (T.R. Knight) come back for a brief scene or two.

“I thought it was a beautiful way to close it,” Dempsey recalled to Variety in April 2021 about his beloved character’s return to the show. “The intention was to really give people some hope because they are such an iconic couple. We’ve lost so many people this year, the thought that we’d have angels hovering around us taking care of us is a good message to send out in such a bleak world that we’re living in. So for all of us, it was a beautiful ending to this story. I’m so grateful that I did it and happy that the fans really loved it.”

Keep scrolling to find out everything we know so far about the upcoming season of Grey’s and who will return to the popular medical drama next:

Credit: ABC (3)

Scrubbing Back in! Everything We Know So Far About Season 18 of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Paging Dr. Meredith Grey to ABC’s fall primetime lineup! After season 17 was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, the network officially renewed the long-running medical drama for a new season in May 2021. A month later, ABC confirmed that its season finale was the week’s “No.1 entertainment series” among adults.

“Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy have done an incredible job of honoring real-life heroes by giving audiences an unflinching look at one of the biggest medical stories of our time,” Hulu Originals & ABC Entertainment president Craig Erwich said via a statement at the time. “Krista [Vernoff] and her team of writers have continued to deliver the compelling and compassionate storytelling that is a hallmark of these shows, and created some of the year’s most-talked-about moments in television. We’re so grateful to our talented casts and crews for their extraordinary work that connects with viewers everywhere, and we look forward to sharing even more defining moments with our fans next season.”

The show’s renewal was confirmed after fan-favorite stars Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, Camilla Luddington and more inked fresh contracts to return to the hallowed halls of Grey Sloan Memorial after season 17 saw the departure of two series regulars. In the midst of the COVID-focused season, both Jesse Williams (Jackson Avery) and Giacomo Gianniotti (Andrew DeLuca) were written out.

“Giacomo has brought so much talent and so much heart to the role of Andrew DeLuca,” Vernoff wrote in a statement via her Instagram in March 2021. “We at Grey’s Anatomy are grieving the death of this character with all of you. Giacomo played him so beautifully and took him on such a powerful journey — from intern, to romantic, to a mental health crisis and back again. … Thank you Giacomo for your performance, your talent, your grace.”

Throughout season 17, many familiar faces also returned to the show to reunite with Pompeo’s Meredith Grey during a beach dream sequence while she suffered from COVID-19. Fans were delighted to see Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) and George O’Malley (T.R. Knight) come back for a brief scene or two.

“I thought it was a beautiful way to close it,” Dempsey recalled to Variety in April 2021 about his beloved character’s return to the show. “The intention was to really give people some hope because they are such an iconic couple. We’ve lost so many people this year, the thought that we’d have angels hovering around us taking care of us is a good message to send out in such a bleak world that we’re living in. So for all of us, it was a beautiful ending to this story. I’m so grateful that I did it and happy that the fans really loved it.”

Keep scrolling to find out everything we know so far about the upcoming season of Grey’s and who will return to the popular medical drama next:

Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless

No More COVID-19

The pandemic's effect on last season was tough to watch, and the writers have decided that they won't put the audience through that trauma again, according to Richard Flood, who portrays Cormac Hayes. 

"This season, we’re dealing with an alternate universe where COVID has been dealt with and is now gone," Flood told TVLine in September. "I find a huge amount of freedom not having to wear masks in scenes. Just as an actor, being able to really interact with one another feels easier."

Credit: ABC (2)

Addison Has Something Jo Wants

Luddington revealed Addison's return to Seattle is a big deal for Jo, who shifted her focus to being an OBGYN last season.

"She is back and it is kind of like she's never left before," Luddington told Entertainment Tonight in September. "I feel like her presence in scenes is that she kind of owns the hospital. I am like, 'Oh my god, it is Addison.' But I think we can say that she is working on a really amazing case that Jo is desperate to get in on. It's always possible there is drama."

Credit: Courtesy TV Promos/YouTube

First Look

The season 18 promo for the ABC show hinted at a possible surprise when the voiceover ended the clip with, "Someone from Meredith's past comes back."

The brief look at the upcoming season also touched on Teddy and Owen's wedding and the rift between Amelia and Link after she didn't accept his marriage proposal.

Credit: Gilles Mingasson/ABC/Kobal/Shutterstock

Premiere Details

The premiere is titled “Here Comes the Sun,” per a press release from ABC.

“As the city of Seattle revels at the Phoenix Fair celebrating the city’s rebirth post-COVID, the Grey Sloan doctors treat a patient who encounters illegal fireworks,” the ABC synopsis reads. “Meanwhile, Bailey has her sights set on hiring new doctors, but she’s having trouble finding viable options. Owen and Teddy attempt to take the next step in their engagement, and Meredith has a surprising opportunity when she meets a dynamic doctor from her mother‘s past.”

Kate Burton, Peter Gallagher and Abigail Spencer will also appear in the premiere.

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New Look on Jo

The same month as the premiere, Luddington revealed via Instagram that Jo will be a blonde during season 18, using the hashtags, “#JoWilson #blonde #NewEra.”

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The Tagline

The key art for season 18 features Meredith, Bailey and Richard. “A new tomorrow, today,” the tagline reads.

Credit: ABC

Crossover Premiere Promises Lots of Drama

“You survived the unthinkable, what are you going to do Meredith?” Meredith’s late mother, Ellis Grey, says in the first trailer for season 18 of Grey’s Anatomy, released in September 2021. As the doctor contemplates what’s next, scenes of the Station 19 firefighters getting their rig stolen flash across the screen. The crossover episode also promises a lot of drama — a firetruck crash, an ambulance rescue by foot and a possible character coming back to Grey Sloan.

“Brace yourself for one helluva return,” the voiceover warns. The teaser then flashes to a mysterious male accident victim being transported on a stretcher to the hospital. Moments later Spencer’s Dr. Megan Hunt runs through Grey Sloan dressed in a yellow frock. “Oh, my God,” Teddy says as Owen makes a worried face at the scene, causing some fans to think the patient could be Martin Henderson’s Riggs. Riggs was last seen in October 2017, but with Dr. Hunt’s return, fans are wondering if Riggs is the patient.

Credit: ABC/Mitch Haaseth

Megan Hunt Returns

Owen's sister will be back. The military vet, who was presumed dead for a decade, moved to Los Angeles in season 14 with her adopted son, Farouk, and her fiancé Nathan (Henderson). She was last seen when she made a surprise visit in season 15 to help a fellow veteran get surgery.

Spencer will reprise her role as Megan Hunt, making her return on the September 30 premiere.

Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

Addison's Return

In September 2021, the Emily in Paris star officially confirmed that she'd be coming back to the ABC drama more than a decade after her exit. "It's really happening. Dr. Addison Montgomery will see you shortly  #GreysAnatomy @GreysABC @Shondaland @EllenPompeo," she tweeted at the time.

Credit: Courtesy of Alex Landi/Instagram

Paging Ortho!

Several days after Pompeo and Luddington returned to set, the ortho posse was brought back on August 14. Alex Landi (who plays Nico Kim) shared a behind-the-scenes selfie with Chris Carmack (Atticus Lincoln) and Ant Hill (Winston Ndugu), all in their navy scrubs. Landi captioned the pic, “Ortho’s first day,” alongside a #season18 hashtag.

For Hill’s part, he shared a selfie from his trailer via Instagram that day, writing, “Season 18. Day 1. 🙌🏾.”  Pompeo — who plays his onscreen sister-in-law — commented, "Let them know @anthilll 🙌🔥.”

Credit: Courtesy of Ellen Pompeo/Instagram

Return to Set

The GSM crew is officially back to work! The Friends alum posted a behind-the-scenes video via her Instagram Story on Wednesday, August 11, getting her makeup done. She captioned the post, “Guess what time it is?? #GreysSeason18 with @deskikole and @animaloney.la.”


Luddington, who plays Jo Wilson on the show, also shared a BTS snap from her trailer that day. “Day 1 … collecting lots of BTS pics to post when we premiere,” she wrote via her Stories at the time, alongside a black container that had a sign which read, “Jo Costume Return End of Day.” 

Additionally, Jake Borelli (Levi Schmitt) shared a selfie via his Story, wearing a “season 17” hoodie. In the pic, he crossed out “17” and etched 18 on the slide, seemingly teasing that Levi will also be returning to the medical series.

Credit: Broadway World/Shutterstock

More Ghosts Are Coming

Kate Burton, who previously played Meredith’s mother, Ellis, will reprise her role as the acclaimed surgeon for multiple installments in the new season. Deadline first reported the news in August 2021. Burton’s character died in season 3, but has made appearances in various flashbacks and dreams over the years.

Credit: Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock

A New Face

In August 2021, Deadline reported that Gallagher is set to join season 18 in the recurring role of Dr. Alan Hamilton. According to the outlet, his character may be connected to the reappearance of the late Ellis Grey (Burton). 

Credit: ABC (2)

Many Fan-Favorites Are Expected to Return to Grey-Sloan, Too

Ahead of season 17, several cast members inked fresh deals to return for seasons 17 and 18. Deadline confirmed in July 2020 that Luddington, Kim Raver (Teddy Altman) and Kevin McKidd (Owen Hunt) signed multi-year contracts to return to the show.

Credit: ABC/Richard Cartwright

The Writers Are ‘Digging Deep’ to Create Show’s ‘Next Phase’

The network heads previously spoke about what Vernoff’s team had in store for the upcoming season in May 2021 at the ABC upfronts.

“Krista and the team are really digging deep and finding out what that looks like. They are noodling ideas, and I can’t wait to, when we land on what that is to introduce the next phase of Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC Signature President Jonnie Davis told Deadline at the time. “We will find the next version that will take it to the next 18 years. We’re working on for right now, and there’s no better brains to figure it out than Krista and Shonda.”

Credit: ABC (3)

The OGs Are Back

After ABC closed a new deal with the Rebel creator to resume working with the network, they also finalized contracts for the last remaining members of the original cast in May 2021. Deadline first confirmed at the time that Pompeo, Wilson and James Pickens Jr. would return as Meredith Grey, Miranda Bailey and Richard Webber, respectively.

Credit: BC/Richard Cartwright

It’s All About TGIT This September

ABC confirmed the show’s return on Thursday, September 30, at 9 p.m. ET.

Credit: ABC/Justin Stephens

‘Station 19’ Spinoff Will Also Return

The network also announced the firefighting spinoff was renewed for its fifth season, likely meaning there will be more crossovers during the 2021-22 TV season.


“The writers, directors, casts and crews of Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19 worked so hard to bring these shows to life this past season,” Vernoff said in a statement. “Keeping each other safe on set while paying tribute to the front-line heroes and first responders has been a challenge and a privilege. I’ve been truly blown away – particularly by our tireless crews – as they reinvented the TV-making wheel. Thank you to ABC and ABC Signature for the support and extraordinary partnership through this unprecedented season. We are so grateful for the opportunity to tell more stories.”