Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
There’s a new (familiar!) face coming toGrey’s Anatomy!
GleealumHarry Shum Jr.will be joining the upcoming 19th season of the ABC medical drama, set to premiere this fall.
Shum, 40, joins new cast members cast Adelaide Kane, Alexis Floyd, Niko Terho and Midori Francis — all of whom will play first-year surgical residents at Grey Sloan Memorial.
The end of season 18 also saw Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) quit as Chief of Surgery, leaving Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) in charge.
“I have to protect my health and my sanity first, so I quit,” Bailey told Meredith and avisitingJackson Avery (Jesse Williams). “I’m done. No notice. Pru and I have cookies to make. You heard me right: cookies.”
Pompeo sparked rumors of a departure last season. In May, she discussed the possibility of her character’s namesakeseries continuing without her.
“Trying to reinvent the show and continually trying to reinvent the show is the challenge at this point, and listen, the show speaks to a lot of people, and the young people love the show,” she toldEntertainment Tonight.
“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,” she said.
Liliane Lathan/ABC via Getty
Pompeotold PEOPLEduring the show’s 400th episode party on May 6: “I’ve had three children and I got married and I’ve turned into a completely different person doing the show,” so it seemed like she was ready to move on.
“I’m not saying I’ll never act again, I very well may, but I’m not super excited about continuing my acting career,” she said on theLadies First with Laura Brownpodcast last December.
She continued, “The acting, even though I haven’t done a million different roles, I feel like I’ve done it. … I have no desire to go sit in trailers at 11 o’clock at night and wait to shoot scenes and have ADs knock on my door and tell me when I can eat lunch. You know, it’s for the young at heart. It’s for the youth!”
For now, Pompeo and her remaining OGGrey’s stars — Wilson andJames Pickens Jr.— were allmentioned as returningin creatorShonda Rhimes' statement when the show was renewed in January.
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Grey’s Anatomywill return to ABC in the fall.
source: people.com
