Grey's Anatomy's Forgotten Fan-Favorite Is The Perfect Character To Launch ABC’s Texas Spinoff

Published Sep 18, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT

Antonella Gugliersi (she/them) has been a feature writer for Screen Rant since 2021. While studying for her bachelor’s in Economics & Management, they started writing about movies and TV shows for Turin-based The Unconventional Mag. After a brief internship at TPI, she decided she wanted to pursue journalism and graduated with a degree in International Journalism from Brunel University.

One forgotten Grey’s Anatomy character can be the perfect connection to ABC’s Texas-based spinoff. More than two decades after its creation, Grey’s Anatomy has become a streaming juggernaut whose weekly episodes are still popular enough to prompt the medical drama to return for a record-setting season 23. In the 21 years since its inception, Grey’s Anatomy spawned three spinoffs to varying degrees of success. 2027 being the year that a fourth Grey’s Anatomy spinoff sees the light of day lets the drama go down in history for yet another reason, and it has the perfect forgotten character to launch it.

Co-created and written by Shonda Rhimes and Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Meg Marinis, the fourth Grey’s Anatomy spinoff will be set in rural Texas, focusing on a team of doctors at a medical center that is the last chance for care for miles. The Grey’s Anatomy spinoff is set to premiere in 2027, with the precise date yet to be announced. Rhimes and Marinis will also act as executive producers of the project, together with Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo.

The Texas-based Grey’s Anatomy spinoff is set to follow a brand-new group of characters who haven’t been part of the medical drama’s universe before. It’s the first time that all characters will be new, as Private Practice had Addison Montgomery, Station 19 had Ben Warren, and Grey’s Anatomy: B-Team had multiple characters who also appeared in Grey’s Anatomy. However, the latest spinoff will also need a Grey’s Anatomy character to connect it with the parent series, and the perfect one to do so would be Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli).

Levi Schmitt Is The Perfect Character To Connect Grey's Anatomy & Its New Spinoff

Schmitt’s exit in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 7 functioned as a perfect sendoff for the character, one that gave him an unmistakable happily-ever-after away from Seattle, because his new pediatric research position made his dream fellowship attainable and because James followed him. However, it’s Schmitt’s new base that makes his appearance in the new Grey’s Anatomy spinoff make sense. After all, Schmitt moved to San Antonio after leaving Grey Sloan Memorial.

Admittedly, San Antonio is unlikely to be the setting of the Texas-based Grey’s Anatomy spinoff, as it wouldn’t be remote enough for the show’s premise. Still, its position puts Schmitt in the vicinity, something that cannot be said about other Grey’s Anatomy characters. Schmitt’s appearance would not only be plausible, but it could also offer an update on his and James’s life, working doubly as a connection to Grey’s Anatomy and an even bigger reason to tune in for its spinoff.

Schmitt working as a link between Grey’s Anatomy and its latest spinoff would also make sense given how involved Borelli has been in the medical drama since leaving it. Indeed, Borelli not only returned as Schmitt in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 17 for Jo’s wedding, but he also dropped by to direct Grey’s Anatomy season 22, episode 16. This proved that Grey’s Anatomy’s open-door policy for past cast members to return was employed multiple times for Borelli, making a third one not completely unlikely, especially considering Schmitt’s base being in Texas.

While Schmitt’s research job gives him little cause to visit the Texas-based Grey’s Anatomy spinoff’s medical center, he could still do so due to a patient crisis, especially as he had become an attending at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital before leaving the show. Alternatively, Schmitt’s appearance could also be caused by an accident befalling him that would warrant his visit to the remote medical center. Either way, the latest Grey’s Anatomy spinoff could pull off Schmitt’s appearance, both from a narrative point of view and a behind-the-scenes one.

Which Other Characters Could Introduce The Grey's Anatomy Spinoff

The Texas-based spinoff could decide to go another way to set it up, employing a character closer to Grey’s Anatomy than Schmitt, who hasn’t been consistently part of the medical drama recently. Another valid alternative would be Meredith Grey, being Grey’s Anatomy’s protagonist. Even considering her reduced role, Meredith’s own name appearing in the show’s name makes her centrality undeniable. Considering also how pivotal Meredith had been with Andy during Station 19’s backdoor pilot, it wouldn’t be too farfetched to expect her to be the connection to the fourth Grey’s Anatomy spinoff herself.

Another option could also be Addison Montgomery. Addison returned multiple times to Grey Sloan Memorial in recent years, with her appearances introducing her purpose to provide complete OB-GYN care in states with abortion bans, which already led her all over the country. Her current mission would make Addison a suitable guest for the Grey’s Anatomy Texas-based spinoff, although less so than Meredith or Schmitt, who would be better suited for completely different reasons.

Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for my weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.

• 

  Ellen Pompeo

  Dr. Meredith Grey

• 

  Chandra Wilson

  Dr. Miranda Bailey