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He called his 2020 return to the show, “the ending I never expected and couldn’t possibly have expected, in so many ways,” while speaking with Good Morning America. He was particularly ecstatic to be working with Ellen again. “Ellen is the kind of actor I’m endlessly grateful to act with. She’s the embodiment of truth,” he said in an Instagram caption after appearing on Grey’s Anatomy again.
Ellen and T.R. also have a loving relationship off-camera. The pair have managed to stay close after all these years. “George and Meredith love each other, for sure, but I don’t think he can hold a candle to the love I have for Ellen,” said T.R. on Instagram.
Shonda Rhimes was quick to address Ellen leaving Grey’s Anatomy. Taking to Instagram, the Bridgerton creator said “What a wild ride these past 19 seasons have been. None of it could have been possible without the incomparable @ellenpompeo, the one and only Meredith Grey.” Ellen responded “Thank you Queen!!” in the comments.
Ellen’s departure has led fans to question when the series will come to an end. The only two original cast members left are Chandra Wilson who plays Miranda Bailey and James Picken Jr, who plays Richard Webber. With Ellen goes the titular character and narrator of the series.
Shonda and Ellen had said in the past that when Ellen was ready to leave the show, Shonda would end it. Speaking to Cosmopolitan in 2008, Ellen said “We feel like we’re in this together, and I think we don’t want to do the show without each other. I think when either of us is ready, when we feel like it’s time to wrap it up, [we will].”
But it seems like Shonda has too many other projects on her plate to worry about ending Grey’s Anatomy. In 2021, Shonda admitted she may not even be the one who writes the ending for the show, as she’s so busy with other work. She signed a massive deal with Netflix and is producing a Hulu series based on the 2009 movie Orphan.
Does Ellen Pompeo Ever Plan On Going Back To Grey’s Anatomy After She Leaves?
Despite leaving the show, fans can expect to see Meredith Grey back at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in the future. Speaking with Deadline in September 2022, Ellen said, “I’m an executive producer on that show. I’ve spent two decades of my career on that show. It’s my heart and soul and I’ll never truly be gone as long as that show is on the air.” She’s also confirmed that she’ll continue to narrate the show through the end of season 19.
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She seems to have hinted at the show being reinvented in the future rather than ending all together. While speaking with Entertainment Tonight, she said “It’s inspired so many generations of healthcare workers, so, I think for the young people, it’s a really good piece of content, and we’re going to try to keep it going for the young people, not necessarily with me, but keep it going beyond me.”
Shonda Rhimes has no idea how the show would even end at this point either. “I’ve had 15 different endings for this show and the show just keeps going. So anything that I had ever planned is no longer even mildly relevant,” she said in a 2022 interview with People Magazine.”
The truth is Grey’s Anatomy makes too much money to end. During a 2021 interview with Insider, Ellen said “I’ve been trying to focus on convincing everybody that it should end, 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?’ And everyone’s like, ‘Who cares, Ellen? It makes a gazillion dollars.’”
While we don’t know exactly how much the showrunners are pocketing from Grey’s Anatomy’s continuation, we do know that Ellen is leaving behind a $575,000 per episode salary to pursue other opportunities. Grey’s Anatomy has yet to be renewed for a 20th season, but there’s no indication that the show isn’t going to be picked up again by the network.
