Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Shake-Up: Who’s In, Who’s Out?
Grey's Anatomy returns next month for Season 22, and the cast shake-up is real—who’s scrubbing out, who’s staying put, and which familiar faces might scrub back in?
Grey's Anatomy drops Season 22 next month, and yes, we are once again doing the annual roll call: who is actually sticking around, and who quietly packed their scrubs and left an elevator note. Long-running shows like this always have a revolving door, and Grey Sloan has had more than a few exits, returns, and guest star drive-bys over the years. Here is where things stand heading into the new season.
The jobs update (with one very big caveat)
"No one — except Meredith Grey and Ben Warren — was safe heading into the upcoming installment."
That is straight from showrunner Meg Marinis in a THR chat. Translation: they can put almost anyone through the wringer this season, but Ellen Pompeo and Jason George are protected. With that in mind, here is who is contracted or listed to appear in Season 22, plus a few status notes the show left dangling.
- Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo): Still top-billed and still doing the voiceover that frames every episode.
- Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson): Under contract for Season 22, per TVLine.
- Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.): Also contracted for Season 22.
- Dr. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd): Back under contract; worth noting his marriage to Teddy Altman imploded before Season 21's cliffhanger.
- Dr. Teddy Altman (Kim Raver): Contracted to appear in Season 22.
- Dr. Amelia Shepherd: Part of the main cast lineup this season.
- Dr. Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington): Contracted, and last we saw, Jo was pregnant.
- Dr. Ben Warren (Jason George): Contracted for Season 22 and, like Meredith, survived the Season 21 finale explosion.
- Dr. Atticus "Link" Lincoln (Chris Carmack): Listed as a series regular via Deadline, though the Season 21 finale left his fate up in the air.
- Dr. Winston Ndugu (Anthony Hill): Expected to return in Season 22.
- Dr. Simone Griffith (Alexis Floyd): Included in the Season 22 cast.
- Dr. Benson "Blue" Kwan (Harry Shum Jr.): Part of the main cast lineup.
- Dr. Jules Millin (Adelaide Kane): Expected to be back.
- Dr. Lucas Adams (Niko Terho): Listed among the Season 22 cast.
Who is out before Season 22
Two departures are locked in, and the reasons are a little bit inside baseball:
Jake Borelli (Dr. Levi Schmitt) exited following the Season 22 renewal, which came with a budget cut, per Deadline. Cost-saving cast trims on a show this old are not unusual, but it still stings when it is a fan favorite.
Midori Francis (Dr. Mika Yasuda) is also leaving. Deadline notes she is focusing on broadening her career after signing with WME, which tracks for someone in demand.
The bottom line
Season 22 is stacking the deck with familiar faces, but the showrunner has already warned the comfort blanket is thin. Meredith and Ben are safe; everyone else, not so much. Welcome back to Grey Sloan.