TVLine has confirmed that original Grey's Anatomy castmembers Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, Sandra Oh, Justin Chambers, James Pickens, Jr. and Chandra Wilson have all inked new two-year deals to continue with the ABC medical drama.
Our sister site Deadline first reported the news.
Showrunner Shonda Rhimes told TVLine in January that she was resolved to designing a fitting finale for Grey's current eighth season, despite not knowing which members of the original cast would and would not return next fall.
“[It] was the most complex puzzle I’ve had to put together - ever,” she shared. ”We have all these moveable pieces of who’s coming back and who’s not, and finally I just decided to focus on what was going to be best creatively [and] make it work regardless of what is happening [off screen].”
ABC has yet to formally order a ninth season of Grey’s; the network reveals its 2012-13 TV schedule next Tuesday.
This could be a red herring, right? Because if NOT, that means Richard and Derek are safe as well (not that I ever thought they would REALLY kill Derek), and who does this leave US?
There are only 5 possibilities anymore about who's gonna bite the dust...
Teddy... Owen... Callie... Arizona... Lexie...
And I actually DON'T see how - for example - Teddy's or Arizona's death (sorry) would have an impact at most of the collegues, because they mostly have 1 or 2 characters they are REALLY linked to, but everyone else? Sure, they would be sad if they would die, but I don't see the "big impact" if it's not Owen, Callie or Lexie...
I've heard rumors that there will be a plane crash and Mark could be involved and could get hurt badly, though... that would explain the "bittersweet" Shonda tends to use concerning Mark/Lexie and in THIS case (If that's true), there is NO way she will kill Lexie, right? It would be already bad enough if Mark got seriously injured and Lexie had to fight for his life...
Now I hope, it's Owen... he is the Chief after all, and that would leave a lot of possibilities... (Although I somewhere read he will be IN the hospital alongside Teddy and April when "it" happens, but I can't seem to find the spoiler anymore)...