Grey's Anatomy spin-off series casts How to Get Away with Murder star to play 'haunted and cynical' lead doctor

The upcoming Grey's Anatomy spin-off, which was announced earlier this year, has found its first cast member, with How to Get Away with Murder star Karla Souza landing the lead role.

The series is currently still untitled, but will be set in West Texas. Souza will play Dr Carolina 'Lina' Hall, who has been described as a haunted and cynical doctor in her 40s who runs a medical centre in a small town.

The series has been co-created by Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes and showrunner Meg Marinis, along with executive producers Betsy Beers and Meredith Grey star Ellen Pompeo.

It has been described as an edgy drama about a team at a rural West Texas medical centre, which is the last chance for care before miles of nowhere.

Souza's casting means she is being reunited with Rhimes and Beers, who executive produced How to Get Away with Murder through their Shondaland banner. Souza is best known for playing Laurel Castillo opposite Viola Davis across all six seasons of the legal thriller.

More recently, she starred in Prime Video's 56 Days alongside Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia, played Marina in ABC's Home Economics and appeared opposite Jamie Foxx in the Netflix film Day Shift.

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Recently, it was revealed that the spin-off will film in Albuquerque, New Mexico rather than California, as it failed to secure a tax credit in the state. The delay to its production start date means it will no longer premiere in midseason 2027 as originally planned, and has been pushed to the 2027-28 season.

Filming is expected to begin in early 2027, with this becoming the latest Grey's Anatomy spin-off following Private Practice and Station 19.

The Grey's Anatomy spin-off is coming soon to Disney+. You can sign up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month.

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Authors

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.