Future Grey’s Anatomy Spinoff Chances After Station 19’s Ending Addressed By Exec

The possibility of more Grey’s Anatomy spinoffs is addressed by a top ABC executive as the firefighter drama Station 19 comes to an end.

The possibility of more Grey’s Anatomy spinoffs is addressed by a top ABC executive. The medical drama has already launched Private Practice and the firefighter spinoff Station 19. It was announced in December 2023 that the former would end with the upcoming season 7, and its impending absence has led to questions about whether there will be other Grey’s Anatomy spinoffs.

Craig Erwich, who oversees ABC, was asked by Deadline about the future of the popular medical soap beyond just the immediate Grey’s Anatomy season 20. Erwich mentions, in the below quote, that he’s open to expanding the universe, but also indicates that he isn’t in a rush to take away from the main show:

We’re always open to new and different iterations on any of our most key franchises and our most realized shows, which Grey’s is one of them. I have lots of good stuff here, so need to break some of the stuff up.

Why A Grey’s Anatomy Spinoff Could Work

Grey’s Anatomy functions like a loose spinoff already.

Grey’s Anatomy is in a better position to launch a hospital-based spinoff due to its longevity. With several notable cast exits, and the recently scaled-back role for series lead Ellen Pompeo, the ABC drama already has two of the key ingredients of a spinoff: veteran cast members that the audience recognizes and identifies with, and new faces that rub shoulders with the established talent. Grey’s Anatomy season 19 followed this setup by welcoming a new class of interns.

Niko Terho, Adelaide Kane, Midori Francis, Harry Shum Jr., and Alexis Floyd all joined the cast. Floyd plays the high-achieving Simone Griffin, who grew up in Seattle and has a painful history with the hospital. Shum portrays Daniel “Blue” Kwan, an impatient resident who is generous but competitive to a fault. Francis, meanwhile, plays Mika Yasuda, the middle child of eight siblings who is used to being overlooked, while Kane appears as Jules Millin, who feels burdened by being the only adult in her family. As for Terho, he plays the determined Lucas Adams.

Any one of these characters – or all of them – could form the basis for a Grey’s Anatomy offshoot. Grey’s Anatomy is among TV’s most valuable successes. It performs well in terms of broadcast ratings, is a hit on streaming, and travels well to audiences outside the United States. It ticks major boxes, which means that the new interns aren’t likely to lead their spinoff soon. However, when it does come time for the long-running soap to bow out, the pieces are already in place for a continuation.

Grey’s Anatomy season 20 will premiere Thursday, March 14 at 9 p.m. EST on ABC.