18-Season Grey's Anatomy Legend Returns For New Role

Published Oct 3, 2026, 1:30 PM EDT

Alexandria is a British-Canadian writer with a passion for network TV. 
She has a bachelor's degree in computer science from Aston University, Birmingham. After initially working as a software tester, she rekindled a passion for writing and has written for blogs and publications like Hidden Remote, Make a Living Writing, and The Daily Voice. She has interviewed various actors and showrunners, with her most memorably being Tony Shalhoub and Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

Very few primetime dramas achieve the sheer longevity and cultural weight of Grey's Anatomy. This is a series that has seen high cast turnover throughout its two decades on the screen, but it remains strong and popular with the viewers. It's even moved time slots multiple times, and continues to benefit from its loyal fanbase.

Where there were concerns about budget cuts leading to Grey's Anatomy being canceled, the medical drama found a way to manage the problem. Now, as Grey's Anatomy season 23 prepares to begin, the halls of Grey Sloan Memorial are prepared for transformation. The season 22 finale already wrote out two main characters, and there are questions about the fate of Benson Kwan on Grey's, as Harry Shum Jr. spends time on Dancing with the Stars.

New characters are set to walk the halls of Grey Sloan Memorial, hinting at major shifts in the dynamic and opening the door for some intense Grey's Anatomy plots. Despite the sweeping changes, the show's legendary honor remains intact, and there is excitement for the drama and medical emergencies set to entertain.

Cast exits aren't necessarily forever, though. In fact, one 18-season veteran is returning to Grey's Anatomy in another role. Many actors are now taking a turn behind the camera, directing episodes of the shows they have called home, and the medical drama is no different. This could even open the door for a return to happen on screen, as Grey's Anatomy has liked to keep the door open for many over the years.

Kevin McKidd Is Returning In Grey's Anatomy Season 23 As A Director

While Kevin McKidd has left Grey Sloan Memorial's doors on-screen, he has not left the series behind completely. There were no hard feelings when he was written out, and as the exit was being planned, Marinis and Allen asked him to come back to direct. He will return behind the camera during the second episode of Grey's Anatomy season 23.

This isn't the first time the Scottish actor has stepped behind the camera on the series. He has directed a total of 49 episodes so far, making his return a major milestone for someone in the industry. The first one he took the reins on was in season 7, titled "Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go)," and he has directed between two and four episodes each season after that.

The latest was Owen and Teddy's exit episode of Grey's Anatomy. While he wouldn't usually direct a finale, as that's often Allen's episode to do, he needed to step in when Allen's Broadway schedule got in the way. There are minimal details about his next episode he'll step behind the camera for, except that it's titled "Slippin' and Slidin."

Will McKidd Ever Reprise Owen In Grey's Anatomy?

Despite McKidd admitting that he had been thinking about his character's exit for a few years, the decision to leave the show at the end of season 22 wasn't his. It was due to budget constraints that almost ended Grey's Anatomy, and that led to Marinis having to make some difficult decisions. However, McKidd wasn't angry with the decision. He was just happy that he had got to spend so long on the show, in an industry where renewals are never guaranteed.

Grey's Anatomy has brought characters back in the past, even finding a way to bring back characters who have died. The great news for those who want to see more Owen is that McKidd is open to returning to the series. Marinis has already shared that she would love to see Owen and Teddy return to Grey's Anatomy at some point, and with the two characters getting to walk away instead of dying on the show, it makes it easy to craft a storyline.

Owen's family is in the United States, with his sister in another state and his mom at home in Seattle. He is close to his mom, so he would want to return to visit any time he got a chance, and he would need to bring his children with him so that they can see their grandmother.

It's also possible that he'd need a break from Paris, as McKidd thinks that Owen will struggle with the culture shock of the country, but that he will stick it out for Teddy. There are plenty of opportunities to bring him back when Grey's Anatomy season 23 premieres on Thursday, October 15 on ABC.

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  Ellen Pompeo

  Dr. Meredith Grey

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  Chandra Wilson

  Dr. Miranda Bailey

Created by Shonda Rhimes, long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy depicts the professional and personal lives of the employees of a Seattle hospital.