At the 41st Annual NAACP Awards on Friday night, Shonda Rhimes talked a little about Grey's Anatomy, including what’s in store for Katherine Heigl’s character.

Well, sort of. At least we know that her character will be involved in ... something. “She’s written into the next script,” Shonda revealed to reporters at the event.

Heigl's stint on the drama has been marked by controversy the past two seasons and by two prolonged absences in the current Season Six. But she'll be back.

While we know that Izzie Stevens, who suffered from an almost lethal bout with cancer, is definitely returning, the fate of the Chief of Surgery is another story.

What does the future hold for Richard and Izzie?

“Well, I love James Pickens and I think that we’re going to get to see a lot more of him and what happens to his character and explore what happens to a doctor when they go to rehab and eventually come out the other side,” Shonda explains of his character, Richard Webber.

But any show needs a bit of new blood, and some change to keep running on all cylinders. Shonda Rhimes agrees that Jesse Williams is perfect to fill that role.

“We developed his character a little more and illuminate who he is a little more to give more time to him… I think it was nice to bring in people that the audience would hate and our characters would have to rise against,” she revealed after the awards ceremony in L.A.

Guess he's not one of the two Mercy Westers who'll be fired.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.