Ellen Pompeo will only appear in a handful of 'Grey's Anatomy' season 19 episodes. Here's everything you need to know about the changes coming on the medical drama's new season.

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Ellen Pompeo will only appear in a handful of 'Grey's Anatomy' season 19 episodes. Here's everything you need to know about the changes coming on the medical drama's new season.
  • Ellen Pompeo will only appear on-screen in eight episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" season 19.
  • Five new additions to the cast will play surgical residents.
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"Grey's Anatomy" returns to ABC for its 19th season on October 6 with a season premiere titled "Everything Has Changed."

"Grey's Anatomy" returns to ABC for its 19th season on October 6 with a season premiere titled "Everything Has Changed."
Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey in the "Grey's Anatomy" season 18 episode "Should I Stay or Should I Go."ABC/Liliane Lathan

Here's the synopsis for "Everything Has Changed," provided by ABC:

After a long six months, Grey Sloan Memorial has reinstated its residency program. A group of talented and striving young interns has been recruited as the attending surgeons work to rebuild the program to its former glory. Meredith, still functioning as the interim chief, sees Nick for the first time since she rejected his offer to move to Minnesota. Meanwhile, Bailey tells Richard she is not ready to return to work; Levi works up the courage to break disappointing news to Jo, and things turn awkward when Link realizes he has met one of the interns already. With Amelia and Maggie's help, the new doctors are thrown into their first day on the job dealing with injuries from a recent tornado.

The season premiere was written by showrunner Krista Vernoff and directed by Debbie Allen, who plays Catherine Fox on the show.

Ellen Pompeo will only appear on screen in eight episodes in season 19.

Ellen Pompeo will only appear on screen in eight episodes in season 19.
Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey in the "Grey's Anatomy" season 18 episode "I'll Cover You."ABC

In August, Deadline reported that Ellen Pompeo, who plays the titular character Dr. Meredith Grey on "Grey's Anatomy," will only appear on eight episodes of the show on season 19.

The scale-back comes because Pompeo will star in and executive produce an upcoming untitled Hulu limited series inspired by a true story of parents who adopt a Ukrainian child and later discover she's living a lie.

Deadline reported that Pompeo will still executive produce "Grey's" and will narrate episodes as Meredith throughout the season, even when she's not seen on screen.

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Scott Speedman's role has also been reduced.

Scott Speedman's role has also been reduced.
Ellen Pompeo and Scott Speedman on the "Grey's Anatomy" season 18 episode “Put the Squeeze on Me."Liliane Lathan/ABC

Like Pompeo, Scott Speedman's role as Meredith's current love interest, Dr. Nick Marsh, has also been reduced. TVLine reported in August that Speedman was bumped from series regular to a recurring role.

Kate Walsh will recur as Dr. Addison Montgomery.

Kate Walsh will recur as Dr. Addison Montgomery.
Kate Walsh as Dr. Montgomery on "Grey's Anatomy."ABC

In September, Variety reported that Kate Walsh will reprise her role as Dr. Addison Montgomery on the upcoming season.

Walsh played the role on the first three seasons of "Grey's" before the character moved to California, allowing the actor to star in the first "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off "Private Practice" from 2007 to 2013.

She originally returned to the "Grey's" universe in 2021 for season 18 of the show.

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Several other returning series regulars have been confirmed.

Several other returning series regulars have been confirmed.
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey on "Grey's Anatomy."ABC/Eric McCandless

TVLine also confirmed what actors would have series regular status alongside Pompeo (even with her reduced role) in August.

Chandra Wilson will return as Dr. Miranda Bailey. Other returning cast members include Jim Pikens Jr. (Dr. Richard Webber), Kevin McKidd (Dr. Owen Hunt), Kim Raver (Dr. Teddy Altman), Kelly McCreary (Dr. Maggie Pierce), Anthony Hill (Dr. Winston Ndugu), Caterina Scorsone (Dr. Amelia Shepherd), Camilla Luddington (Dr. Jo Wilson), Chris Carmack (Dr. Atticus Lincoln), and Jake Borelli (Dr. Levi Schmitt).

Shondaland alum Alexis Floyd will be joining the show as a series regular in season 19.

Shondaland alum Alexis Floyd will be joining the show as a series regular in season 19.
Alexis Floyd.Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

In July, Deadline reported that "Inventing Anna" star Alexis Floyd would be joining "Grey's Anatomy" season 19 as a series regular.

Speaking to People in August, Floyd described her character, a new resident named Dr. Simone Griffin, as a "hard worker" who's also politically minded and who wants to bring "foundational change" to medicine.

Floyd said "Grey's" will also feature details about Simone's relationships with her grandmother, father, and sister.

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Niko Terho is also joining the cast and will play a "black sheep."

Niko Terho is also joining the cast and will play a "black sheep."
Terho in 2020.Matt Petit via Getty Images

Also in July, Deadline reported that "The Thing About Harry" star Niko Terho would also join season 19 as new resident Dr. Lucas Adams.

Terho described his character to People as the "black sheep" in a family full of doctors and said Lucas is "determined to prove himself."

Grey-Sloan will also welcome a "Sex Lives of College Girls" star.

Grey-Sloan will also welcome a "Sex Lives of College Girls" star.
Midori Francis in 2022.Arturo Holmes/WireImage

"The Sex Lives Of College Girls" star Midori Francis will also join the "Grey's Anatomy" cast as a new resident, Deadline reported in July.

Her character Mika Yasuda is the middle child of eight siblings. Francis described her to People as "scrappy" and "a jerk to guys."

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Adelaide Kane also joins the cast for season 19.

Adelaide Kane also joins the cast for season 19.
Adelaide Kane.Frazer Harrison/Getty

"Reign" star Adelaide Kane also joined the cast in July, per Deadline.

She said in People that her character Dr. Jules Millin had "hippy dippy parents" and she basically raised them. Kane also said Jules is "bossy" and "resentfully is into crystals and tarot and astrology."

Harry Shum Jr. rounds out the new group of residents in season 19.

Harry Shum Jr. rounds out the new group of residents in season 19.
Harry Shum Jr.Dimitrios Kambouris/GettyImages

"Glee" star Harry Shum Jr. is the fifth and final actor who joined the "Grey's" cast as a series regular and new resident in July, per Deadline. He'll play Dr. Daniel "Blue" Kwan.

According to a press release, he's "generous" but "competitive" and "naturally gifted." A family crisis set him back in his career and he has "a lot to prove."

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Pompeo will definitely be in the season finale.

Pompeo will definitely be in the season finale.
Pompeo in September 2022.The Walt Disney Company via Getty Images

When reporting on Pompeo's reduced role, Deadline speculated that season 19 will have a slightly reduced episode order — 22 episodes instead of the usual 24.

"I'll be back at 'Grey's' for the finale, and we'll see if we can keep it going," Pompeo told Deadline in September. "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's on the air."

The "Grey's Anatomy" season 19 premiere airs October 6 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.