Will the upcoming eighth season be Grey's Anatomy's swan song?

Not by a mile, Shonda Rhimes says, and we imagine ABC concurs.

Speculation of Ellen Pompeo and/or Patrick Dempsey's departure has run rampant this summer, but that's only because the original cast members' contracts are up.

After next spring, the original cast will be free agents, so to speak.

All of them could leave, all could sign new deals or some could fall into each camp. But creator Rhimes says Grey's Anatomy as a whole will go on beyond May 2012:

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