Grey's Anatomy
Casting News

Grey's Anatomy confirm that Katherine Heigl is indeed leaving the hit series after nearly six seasons, amid reports last week that the original cast member was as good as gone.

But why is she leaving? And how will Izzie be written out? The answers may surprise you.

According to E! Online, Katherine has been asking to leave the medical drama for close to three years, and she finally got what she wanted last week when Grey's Anatomy creator / executive producer Shonda Rhimes and ABC agreed to let her out of her contract.

According to one of Heigl's coworkers on the Grey's Anatomy set, things got "pretty miserable" for all parties involved and "they [the producers] decided to let her leave."

The show's ABC rep has no comment, and Heigl just parted ways with her personal publicist, but it looks increasingly likely that Katherine will not return at all to the set.

The circumstances surrounding Katherine Heigl's departure are odd to say the least.

Unlike T.R. Knight, whose George O'Malley ended up getting a heroic, and tragic sendoff during the Season 5 finale, the writing staff is unsure how to handle Heigi's exit.

Perhaps the weirdest thing about all of this is how it was handled. As we reported, Heigl was planning on returning to the Grey's Anatomy set two weeks ago ... but did not.

So was she a no-show? If so, why? A source in Heigl's camp says she wasn't given a call time to return to Grey's Anatomy after her family leave ended earlier this month.

According to this source, Heigl's "calls weren't returned" when she phoned in asking when to report back. A statement may be made regarding this matter later this week.

Basically, it looks like there's no love lost, or communication between parties in this contentious TV divorce. Was Shonda so bitter at Katherine that she didn't even call her?

Who do you think is at fault? And how should Izzie's exit be handled?

After six seasons on Grey’s Anatomy, Katherine Heigl is finally nearing a discharge.

EW says series creator Shonda Rhimes has agreed to release the fast-rising movie star from her contract and it's up to ABC Studios and Heigl’s reps to hash out an exit agreement.

Why is all of this coming down right now? That’s where things get interesting.

After taking more than half of the current season off to make another movie and connect with her adopted daughter, Heigl was scheduled to return to the Grey’s Anatomy set on March 1 to begin work on the five remaining episodes of the season.

Just one problem: March 1 came and went and there was no Heigl.

A source within the actress’ camp claims that Katherine “was at home and ready to return to work.” Another insider, however, “insists that it’s much more complicated than that.”

So she just didn't go in? This whole thing is bizarre.

The source adds that talks between Heigl and ABC have been going on for months and last week both sides mutually decided that the best solution would be to part ways now.

As a result, Heigl is not expected to return to the Grey’s Anatomy set this season after all, which means her final episode as original character Dr. Izzie Stevens already aired.

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As we previously reported, Grey’s Anatomy will be down two doctors in Season Seven, with Katherine Heigl possibly added to that list later, but currently up in the air.

Both upcoming Grey's Anatomy dismissals involve Mercy West transplants, which has been rumored in recent weeks. Now we can confirm exactly which ones are out.

Entertainment Weekly confirms pink slips are being doled out to Robert Baker (Dr. Charles Percy) and Nora Zehetner (Dr. Reed Adamson), who won't be back this fall.

As for their fellow Mercy Westers, Jesse Williams (Dr. Jackson Avery) and Sarah Drew (Dr. Kepner), their status is unclear, but rumor is they may be around long-term.

Especially in the case of Williams, it's hard to imagine he won't. Jackson has played the biggest role this season among the Mercy Westers, and generates major buzz.

TWO GONE ... and two to go? Or two to stay?

Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes has until June to decide whether to exercise series regular options in both the actors' contracts. Do you think that she should?

As for Katherine Heigl’s oft-absent character, Dr. Izzie Stevens?

As we told you last month, she's on set and will reappear in April. But for how long? We have no idea, and we're not alone there. Confides an ABC source: “No one knows.”

Will you miss the departing doctors at all? Or is it good to actually trim the roster down somewhat? Do you want Katherine to be around next season? Comment away!

Entertainment Weekly confirms this morning that Katherine Heigl is due back on the Grey’s Anatomy set on Monday, which we pretty much gathered up based on previous reports.

As a result, it looks like Izzie will be in the final five episodes of Season Six, whereas anything beyond that is anyone's guess - yours is as good as ours, which is as good as EW's.

In other Grey’s Anatomy casting news, a second member of the Mercy West crew will not be returning next season. So look for two to be gone by the time next year begins.

Any ideas on which two? Jackson appears safe, but the rest?

We'd be surprised if Jackson weren't back next year, but his Mercy West counterparts?

Wendy Raquel Robinson is making her way from The Game to Grey's Anatomy, TVGuide reports.

Robinson, who also starred on The Steve Harvey Show, will guest star as Gina, a very difficult patient. We're hearing Owen (Kevin McKidd), Teddy (Kim Raver), Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Cristina (Sandra Oh) will all work together to help her.

Robinson will appear in one episode slated to air in late March. Yesterday, the show also announced a bigger guest casting move - Jake McLaughlin as Alex's brother Aaron.

Exciting times lie ahead as Season Six gears up for its home stretch!

Izzie is back on Grey's Anatomy.

Whether her return is short-lived is another story.

After taking a three-month maternity leave to bond with her 15-month-old daughter Naleigh, whom she adopted in September with musician husband Josh Kelley, Katherine Heigl is due to return, finally, to the set of Grey’s Anatomy on March 1.

But two weeks later, the actress will be in Las Vegas to accept the ShoWest award for Female Star of the Year, a film honor previously won by Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston.

Is that yet another sign that Heigl — who took a five-episode hiatus from Grey’s earlier this season to film the romantic comedy Life As We Know It - is ready to depart Grey’s?

“It wouldn’t be a shock,” says a source close to the show.

Has Izzie's absence left a void or has it been a non-issue this year?

By the time Grey’s Anatomy airs the finale of Season 6 in May, Heigl, who has occasionally expressed displeasure with the show, will have missed roughly half its 24-episode run.

Despite winning a supporting actress Emmy in 2007, her contract negotiation squabbles and even dissatisfaction with the show's writing have become public in recent years.

So is the actress, who has five movies in development and an action comedy, Killers, out in June, indeed winding down her stint as Dr. Isobel Stevens? Do you want her to?

Whatever happens, don’t expect an announcement before June, when the Grey's Anatomy cast typically learns about their contracts status for the upcoming fall season.

Following reports that Alex's brother would soon make an appearance on Grey’s Anatomy, the show has hired Jake McLaughlin (below) to play Aaron Karev, his younger sibling.

Alex’s estranged bro, Aaron, checks into Seattle Grace as a patient in this season’s 19th episode. So far, 15 episodes have aired this season, with the next one set for March 4.

From what we've gathered about the Karev's this mini-family reunion will be emotional, as viewers have never met a member of Alex’s troubled family, likely for good reason.

What took so long? We'll find out soon enough, but in the meantime, share your theories and opinions with us. What do you think Aaron Karev will reveal to us about Alex?

Are you excited to meet Alex's brother on Grey's Anatomy?

There's been plenty of drama to keep us occupied in her absence, but with the second half of the season in full swing, Grey's Anatomy fans are wondering about Katherine Heigl.

What is her status? Is she ever returning to the show? When she is back, will she just leave at the end of the season? According to EW, she’s due back on set later this month.

That means we probably won’t see Izzie again until late April, and coincidentally, that’s right around the time a new, special patient will check into Seattle Grace: Alex’s brother.

Sources say Grey’s Anatomy is currently casting the role of Karev’s estranged sibling - the first member of the character's supposedly troubled family we will meet in six seasons.

The next round of Izzie-Alex drama should be particularly interesting.

There's some ugly family history, from what we've gathered, including an abusive dad, and it will be fun to see the character of Alex (one of our recent favorites) further explored.

Speaking of Grey’s Anatomy comings and goings, the Mercy West residents look to be sticking around ... well, at least some of them. One will definitely not be back next season.

A source says one of the four newbies introduced earlier in the year has already received his/her walking papers from the show and will exit SGMWH before the end of the season.

Any idea which one it is? Thought's on Izzie's (latest) return?

Courtney Ford, who played the Trinity Killer’s daughter, Christine, on Dexter last season, has signed on to guest star on Grey's Anatomy in an upcoming episode as the sister of a lung transplant patient. She and the patient will surely influence one of the doctors' lives.

Entertainment Weekly reported the news today.

It's unclear which Season Six episode she'll be appearing in, but the show always does a terrific job with its guest casting, so we're sure she'll do great in the role.

Courtney Ford is coming to Grey's Anatomy.

We've already seen a blonde Lexie in a sneak peek from the Valentine's Day episode of Grey's Anatomy. Now here's another new look at a (somewhat) familiar face.

Her character, April, was fired earlier this season, but Sarah Drew will be back on our favorite show during February 11's episode, called "Valentine's Day Massacre."

Here's her with Patrick Dempsey's Derek Shepherd ...

April (Sarah Drew) and Interim Chief Derek (Patrick Dempsey) on Grey's Anatomy.

So what is April doing at Seattle Grace? Insiders say her appearance is not a flashback, and she's clearly wearing a hospital uniform, so who knows. Does she somehow get hired back?

Your guess is as good as ours.

On a side Sarah note, the actress will be appearing on Supernatural this Thursday. Drew is also known for playing Sal's tragic wife/beard Kitty Romano on AMC's hit Mad Men.