A recent filming update about a BBC Studios drama movie suggests that one long-time Grey’s Anatomy star will have less screen time in the upcoming season 21. The news isn’t the first massive change the long-running Shonda Rhimes series has had to navigate in recent years. Grey’s Anatomy season 20 was severely impacted by the dual Hollywood strikes, leading to a slim 10-episode outing. Before that, Ellen Pompeo, who plays the series’ protagonist Meredith Grey, announced she’d be stepping back from the show and appearing less frequently. Even so, the medical drama has forged ahead.

Ahead of Grey’s Anatomy season 20’s ending, several main cast members announced that they wouldn’t be returning in a full-time capacity in the fall. Jake Borelli, who plays Levi Schmitt, and Midori Francis, who plays Mika Yasuda, are just two of the fan-favorite surgeons who won’t be back for Grey’s Anatomy season 21 (outside of wrapping up a few outstanding plotlines). Although some character arcs are coming to a close based on real-world factors, many Grey’s Anatomy doctors won’t be at Grey Sloan due to Catherine Fox’s (Debbie Allen) finale firing spree, including Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd).

Owen Hunt Actor Kevin McKidd Will Star In The BBC’s Adaptation Of The Primrose Railway Children

McKidd Will Likely Have Some Scheduling Conflicts

In July 2024, The Hollywood Reporter announced that long-time Grey’s Anatomy vet Kevin McKidd had signed on to star in the BBC Studios adaptation of The Primrose Railway Children. A modern re-imagining of E. Nesbit’s classic The Railway Children, the series draws inspiration from Jacqueline Wilson’s novel of the same name, which itself reinvents Nesbit’s work. Set to air on the BBC kids channel CBBC, the family drama will film in Glasgow, Scotland, as well as in and around the country’s Highlands and railways. The story follows three children, who, along with their mother, are uprooted from Glasgow.

While Nina Toussaint-White (Bodyguard) will play the children’s mother, Sarah Robinson, McKidd will take on the role of the father, Rob Robinson. For McKidd, the project is a nostalgic one with the original being something he “loved as a child.” While McKidd may be eager to step into the role, production on The Primrose Railway Children may cause some scheduling conflicts for the actor. Given that The Primrose Railway Children will film on location in Scotland, McKidd might be skipping out on some of Grey’s Anatomy season 21’s 18 episodes.

Budget Cuts Mean Stars Won’t Appear In Every Episode Of Grey’s Anatomy Season 21

Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 Will Boast 18 Episodes – But There Will Be Other Changes

Although the upcoming season doesn’t have to negotiate the fallout of dual Hollywood strikes, Grey’s Anatomy isn’t immune to a changing television landscape. The series long-time network, ABC, has been incredibly transparent about its upcoming budget cuts. Even legacy shows like the beloved medical drama aren’t immune — hence the 18-episode order. Still, Grey’s Anatomy season 21 can fix the show’s budgetary problems if it’s willing to be strategic with its roster of characters, and one of the easiest ways to navigate budget cuts is to reduce the total number of episodes that series regulars appear in.

Kevin McKidd’s Owen Hunt Can Still Appear In Grey’s Anatomy Despite His Movie

Owen Can Be More Of A Supporting Character In Grey’s Anatomy Season 21

With the show’s budget-induced changes in mind, Kevin McKidd’s absence might not be too much of a problem for Owen Hunt or Grey’s Anatomy. Of course, that may mean that Owen gets a little less screen time or that his plots aren’t as substantial, but there are certainly workarounds. As it stands, Grey’s Anatomy season 20 set up the perfect exit for Owen and Teddy Altman (Kim Raver), the recently fired ex-Chief of Surgery and Owen’s wife. Although that likely won’t play out, it’s clear that the characters are now less crucial to the series.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 Set Up Its Casting Changes Perfectly

Several Doctors Were Fired From Grey Sloan – Including Owen Hunt

Given Catherine Fox’s mass firing spree, as well as Meredith’s decision to take her research public, Grey’s Anatomy season 20 set up cast changes. Some Grey’s Anatomy season 21 story predictions and theories suggest that the new outing could pick up after a time jump, allowing the hospital to undergo a kind of soft-reset. In particular, season 20 set the stage for Owen’s next chapter. After a hiking incident, the surgeon wants to trade the OR for teaching triage classes to the general public. Regardless of what unfolds, it’s clear that Grey’s Anatomy season 21 will look very different.

Grey’s Anatomy season 21 is expected to premiere on ABC on Thursday, September 26, 2024.