Grey's Anatomy season 20: Release date, cast, trailer and latest news
What's in store at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital?
Warning: Contains minor spoilers for Grey's Anatomy season 20.
Grey’s Anatomy season 20 has come to a dramatic end in the US, leaving plenty of storylines up in the air and paving the way for season 21.
The season 20 finale saw Grey Sloan tasked with dealing with an influx of patients from a wildfire raging just outside Seattle. By the end, multiple characters found themselves at career crossroads with their jobs in limbo, prompting questions about their futures on the show.
Ahead of the 21st season, there have already been some confirmed major changes relating to the cast.
Both Midori Francis (who plays surgical intern Mika Yasuda) and Jake Borelli (who plays surgical resident Levi Schmitt) will be departing the series, with both actors in talks as to how their storylines will wrap up next season.
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Further shake-ups include Grey's moving from its regular 9pm slot on ABC in the US to 10pm, which has caused many to think the show could be coming to a potential end.
But Disney TV Group president Craig Erwich has said (via Deadline): "I think the show is creatively firing on all cylinders and continues to be extraordinarily popular — if not the most popular show in terms of past seasons."
The season 20 finale might have landed in the US, but when can fans in the UK watch the dramatic ending?
Read on for everything you need to know about how to watch Grey's Anatomy season 20.
Grey's Anatomy season 20 release date
Grey's Anatomy season 20 premiered in the US on Thursday 14th March 2024.
Meanwhile, the season landed in the UK on Disney Plus just two weeks later, on 28th March 2024, with episodes airing weekly from then on.
The delay in production and transmission remains due to last year's SAG-AFRA and WGA strikes, which have now lifted.
The season consists of only 10 episodes – the shortest since the first season - due to the delay.
It was confirmed in March of this year that the show would be back for another season, with Meg Marinis taking over as showrunner from Krista Vernoff.
In fact, if creator Shonda Rhimes has anything to do with it, it seems like we may be continuing to see Grey's Anatomy on our screens for many years to come.
Rhimes told Deadline: "I might be a very old lady by the time we reach its last season because it doesn’t seem to be stopping, which is wonderful, and I feel the world really belongs to the fans and the fans have been really clear about what they want.
"It’s such an amazing show and it’s doing so well as it’s moving forward. I’m going to leave it alone and see where it goes, and we’re going to stay a show as long as everybody wants to be there and as long as the fans want to be there."
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Grey's Anatomy season 20 release schedule – when is episode 9 out?
The show returned from its brief midseason hiatus with episode 6 on Disney Plus on Thursday 16th May. The sixth episode aired on ABC at 9am ET on Thursday 2nd May. The episode then became available to stream the next day on Hulu.
Since then, we have been back to weekly releases.
The confirmed release schedule in the UK for the second half of season 20's episodes is as follows:
- Season 20 episode 6 - Thursday 16th May (out now)
- Season 20 episode 7 - Thursday 23rd May (out now)
- Season 20 episode 8 - Thursday 30th May (out now)
- Season 20 episode 9 - Thursday 6th June
- Season 20 episode 10 - Thursday 13th June
Grey's Anatomy cast – Who's back for season 20?
The following main cast members have returned for Grey's Anatomy season 20.
- Chandra Wilson as Dr Miranda Bailey
- James Pickens Jr as Dr Richard Webber
- Kevin McKidd as Dr Owen Hunt
- Caterina Scorsone as Dr Amelia Shepherd
- Camilla Luddington as Dr Jo Wilson
- Kim Raver as Dr Teddy Altman
- Jake Borelli as Dr Levi Schmitt
- Chris Carmack as Dr Atticus Lincoln
- Anthony Hill as Dr Winston Ndugu
- Alexis Floyd as Dr Simone Griffith
- Harry Shum Jr as Dr Benson 'Blue' Kwan
- Adelaide Kane as Dr Jules Millin
- Midori Francis as Dr Mika Yasuda
- Niko Terho as Dr Lucas Adams
- Ellen Pompeo as Dr Meredith Grey
- Scott Speedman as Dr Nick Marsh
- Jessica Capshaw as Dr Arizona Robbins
- Alex Landi as Dr Nico Kim
- Natalie Morales as Dr Monica Beltran
Meredith Grey star Ellen Pompeo is no longer a full-time on-screen cast member after she left early in season 19.
Pompeo returned for the season 19 finale and continues to narrate the series, but isn't expected to play a major role in future.
However, given the developments in Meredith's research into Alzheimer's disease in the season 19 finale, Meredith is continuing to appear in the series on a recurring basis in two to four of the 10 episodes, as well as narrating all episodes and receiving star billing.
Elsewhere, Scott Speedman is back as Dr Nick Marsh, Meredith's love interest and a tutor to the interns.
Additionally, former series regulars Kate Walsh and Jesse Williams have also returned in recurring roles as Dr Addison Forbes Montgomery and Dr Jackson Avery, respectively.
Meanwhile, Kelly McCreary also left the series in season 19, and isn't expected to return for season 20 as Dr Maggie Pierce in a regular capacity. However, the door has been left open for a return.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, McCreary said: "I love that about the show, that people come back. I think it’s open. I think that’s a question for Meg Marinis, who is the new showrunner. But I am open to it and I think the storyline leaves it pretty open."
She later added: "It seems like even though she’s gone to Chicago, Maggie and Winston’s story isn’t over. I’m happy to see there’s still love, respect — and, of course, a lot of heat between them."
Elsewhere, Levi's former love interest Dr Nico Kim, played by Alex Landi, is back for season 20, alongside recurring characters Dr Catherine Fox (Debbie Allen) and Dr Taryn Helm (Jaicy Elliot).
Back in February, it was announced that Dr Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw), who was last seen at the end of season 14, would return to Grey Sloan Memorial in season 20 as a guest star in the fourth episode of the season, as well as Dr Nico Kim (Alex Landi).
Nico was a mainstay on the show from seasons 15 through to 18, being in an off-on relationship with Dr Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli), so we'll just have to wait and see how the pair react when they cross paths once again.
"With Levi and Nico, you will see how they interact with one another now that time has passed," revealed Marinis to Deadline.
"They’ve both done a lot of growing in between seeing each other. Nico is not the same Nico that we saw, it’s been some time. Also Levi has done a lot of growing up as a doctor and he’s had a couple of romantic things happen since Nico. And I think seeing each other in these different parts of their lives, it’s really nice. It’s a great story for Levi."
Other guest stars confirmed for the new series include Natalie Morales (Dead to Me) as Monica Beltran, a paediatric surgeon "whose pragmatism and level-headedness have made her one of the best in her field", according to Deadline.
Freddy Miyares (When They See Us) will also feature as Dorian, a patient who is involved in a major accident and is struggling with his future.
Grey's Anatomy season 20 episodes
The twentieth season of Grey's Anatomy will consist of 10 episodes.
- We've Only Just Begun - Meredith rethinks her plans after going rogue in last season’s finale. The interns are on thin ice following a patient’s death, but Simone and Lucas are immediately tested in an emergency. Richard confides in Bailey, and Teddy’s fate is revealed.
- Keep the Family Close - Bailey tells the interns they must complete dozens of basic procedures before being allowed back in surgery. Meanwhile, things are awkward between Simone and Lucas, and Amelia comes up with a solution to a complicated surgery.
- Walk on the Ocean - Meredith and Amelia work to secure funds for their research while Amelia finds herself at odds with a new attending. Levi runs into someone from his past, and Owen gives Winston advice. Lucas ditches Mika, forcing her to treat a patient alone.
- Baby Can I Hold You - Dr Arizona Robbins returns to Grey Sloan for a particularly complicated case. The interns are interrogated about their past mistakes, while Teddy is eager to return to work after her health scare.
- Never Felt So Alone - It’s all hands on deck at Grey Sloan when a group of medical students is injured by a floor collapsing at their white coat party. Jo and Link are forced to talk about the future, while Jules confronts Winston about his attitude.
- The Marathon Continues - Mika and Teddy receive a patient from a nearby penitentiary; Catherine pushes back on Link and Monica's treatment plan for a VIP; Bailey tries to integrate wellness into the residency programme.
- She Used to Be Mine - An unexpectedly complex case brings back painful memories for Simone; Jules and Blue make a high-stakes bet on who can finish their procedure log first; Richard suspects Winston is avoiding him.
- Blood, Sweat and Tears
- I Carry Your Heart
- Burn It Down
What will be the plot of Grey's Anatomy season 20?
The series continues the plot thread of Meredith's potentially controversial research into Alzheimer's disease after setting up the new storyline in the finale - as she secretly teams up with sister-in-law Amelia against the wishes of Catherine!
Meanwhile, we have a host of romantic pairings who are in happy places as of the finale too, despite how complicated their living arrangements are including Meredith and Nick, plus Maggie and Winston.
The following romantic pairings will need further examination:
- Dr Meredith Grey and Dr Nick Marsh
- Dr Miranda Bailey and Dr Ben Warren
- Dr Richard Webber and Dr Catherine Fox
- Dr Owen Hunt and Dr Teddy Altman
- Dr Jo Wilson and Dr Atticus 'Link' Lincoln
- Dr Maggie Pierce and Dr Winston Ndugu
- Dr Simon Griffith and Dr Lucas Adams
- Dr Benson 'Blue' Kwan and Dr Jules Millin
- Dr Mika Yasuda and Dr Taryn Helm
Bailey will also be back in charge of the interns who are exploring who’s to blame for their mistakes in the finale from last season and into this current run.
Much will also be focused on Teddy's recovery after ending up in a life-or-death situation in the finale of last season and the premiere from this season.
Season 20 is about "back to basics", according to showrunner Meg Marinis.
So, that's a lot of drama to continue! The 20th season of Grey's Anatomy also comes at the same time as the final season of Station 19, the firefighter spin-off to Grey's. There's set to be one final major crossover for the two shows, meaning that a big disaster could be on the cards that warrants both teams being involved.
Showrunner Marinis teased that Bailey’s husband Ben (Jason George) and Carina (Stefania Spampinato) will be making an appearance on Grey's Anatomy, but will they continue to feature in the medical drama after the end of Station 19?
Marinis told Deadline: "I don’t want to answer that because I don’t want to answer anything about Station 19 that I’m not only fully aware of. How they end their stories will help me determine whether or not I will be seeing those characters on Grey’s."
Is there a trailer for Grey's Anatomy season 20?
Yes, a trailer for Grey's Anatomy season 20 has been released.
Catch it below, including seeing Teddy in a dangerous situation, plus further appearances from Meredith and Nick!
Grey's Anatomy seasons 1 to 20 are available to stream on Disney Plus now – sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year now. Season 18 is also available on Sky and NOW with new episodes airing on Sky Witness in the UK.
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