Ellen Pompeo’s character, Meredith Grey, received an emotional farewell during the midseason premiere of Grey’s Anatomy in 2023. Although her screen time has been reduced since then, Pompeo has continued to receive top billing in the opening credits and has remained a series regular, also serving as the show’s narrator. However, it now appears that Pompeo may return for a more significant on-screen role in Season 21.

Sources have revealed that Pompeo is expected to appear in at least seven out of the 18 episodes planned for the upcoming season. This number may even increase, according to reports. If her appearances extend into double digits, it will put her in line with other veteran regulars of the show. As previously reported, many of the long-standing cast members will be reducing their episode count as part of cost-saving measures and will likely miss a few episodes in the next season. Representatives from ABC, Shondaland, and Grey’s Anatomy have declined to comment on this development.

Following her departure from regular episodes in Season 19, Pompeo did return for the season finale. She also appeared in half of the ten episodes in Season 20, making notable contributions to both the season premiere and finale. Additionally, she continued in her role as executive producer and narrator, with her voice framing each episode. This narration role is expected to continue in the next season as well.

“She is always a vital part of the show, and we maintain an open-door policy with her. Whenever she’s available, we welcome her back with open arms,” said Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Meg Marinis in an interview with Deadline earlier this year. Marinis expressed her admiration for Pompeo and described how the actress’s voice is always in her thoughts when working on the series.

Speculation about Pompeo’s possible full-time return has been fueled by her strong relationship with Marinis, who took over as showrunner ahead of Season 20. However, Pompeo’s availability has been limited due to other professional commitments. She scaled back her role on Grey’s Anatomy to pursue other projects, starting with the Hulu limited series Natalia (formerly titled Orphan), which is based on the story of Natalia Grace. Pompeo is both the star and executive producer of the series through her production company, Calamity Jane.

This past season, Pompeo was balancing her work on Grey’s Anatomy and Natalia, both of which are produced by ABC Signature. However, that scheduling conflict is coming to an end, as Natalia is expected to wrap production by the end of the week, allowing Pompeo to focus more on her commitments to Grey’s Anatomy ahead of the start of Season 21’s filming.

With this scheduling issue resolved, fans of Grey’s Anatomy may see even more of Meredith Grey in the upcoming season, as Pompeo’s involvement appears to be increasing. This development is sure to excite long-time viewers of the show who have grown attached to her iconic character over the years.