Grey's Anatomy Poised for Its Biggest Shake-Up in Years

Grey's Anatomy's already stacked cast is expanding, leading to many questions about what Grey's Anatomy Season 19 could look like after the shocking conclusion of Grey's Anatomy Season 18.

Per TV Line, the newest addition to the cast is Midori Francis, best known for Netflix's one-and-done Dash & Lily and HBO Max's hilarious comedy Sex Lives of College Girls.

Francis will play Mika Yasuda, a first-year surgical resident.

"A middle child with eight siblings, Mika is used to “being overlooked and underestimated — and uses it to her advantage,” according to the character breakdown.

“She’s dealing with overwhelming student loans from med school, but she’s scrappy and confident that she can make it in the program and rise to the top."

Simply put, Mika will be a great addition to the cast. We can't wait to see what she brings to the table.

Earlier this week, I nventing Anna's Alexis Floyd also joined the cast in the series regular role of Simone Griffin, a new surgical resident who is smart, high-achieving, and funny.

Simone has a painful personal history at Grey Sloan and, despite growing up in Seattle, never wanted to work at the hospital.

“Grey’s Anatomy, like all of Shonda [Rhimes]’ canon, is a genre re-defining show that remains masterfully committed to diversity, relevancy and vulnerability,” Floyd told Deadline of her casting.

“Joining the cast in its 19th season is an immeasurable honor, and quite simply, it’s gonna be wicked fun.”

Yes, it sounds like Simone will have a pivotal role on Grey's Anatomy Season 19, and we're sure her storyline will somehow be linked to a past event we watched play out.

The final new addition to the cast is Niko Terho, who also landed a series regular role as Lucas Adams. Lucas is “the charming black sheep of his family," according to the character breakdown.

"Likable to a fault, he has a great mind, but doesn’t have the grades to match."

“He’s determined to prove himself as a surgeon, just like many in his family that have come before him, but he will have to stop relying on his people skills and put in the work.”

With all of the new faces, it certainly makes you question what's on tap for the future of the long-running drama.

Adding three new series regulars means that there will likely be some departures planned.

If you watch Grey's Anatomy online, you know the recent season finale set the stage for a raft of big exits.

Now, it looks like some of those exits will stick given the recent casting updates.

The residency program has been scrapped, meaning that characters like Levi (Jake Borelli) and Helm (Jaicy Elliot) could be on the chopping block.

Then again, the season finale also left the future for Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Teddy (Kim Raver) in doubt after they went on the run.

ABC has yet to comment on any exits, but it did state that the show remains a huge hit when it landed a renewal for Season 19 earlier this year.

A show entering its 19th season needs to switch things up to keep viewers tuning in.

“Grey’s Anatomy is a true phenomenon, beloved by audiences around the world. Whether they catch it live on ABC, or stream it on Hulu or globally on Disney+ or Star+, it’s clear that fans can’t get enough of Shonda Rhimes’ brilliant creation,” said Dana Walden, chairman of entertainment at Walt Disney Television when the renewal was announced earlier this year.

“We have enormous faith in Shonda, Krista Vernoff, Ellen Pompeo and the entire creative team to unlock new, untold stories that will continue to focus on modern medicine, tackle the issues that shape the world around us, and resonate deeply with loyal fans for years to come.”

The cast includes Ellen Pompeo (Meredith) McKidd (Owen), Camilla Luddington (Jo), Raver (Teddy), Caterina Scorsone (Amelia), Kelly McCreary (Maggie), Borelli (Levi), Chris Carmack (Link), Richard Flood (Cormac), Antony Hill (Winston), and Scott Speedman (Nick).

The series has been bringing back former faces over the last few years, and it sounds like Kate Walsh could return again as Addison Montgomery.

“Who knows? There is a possibility. I don’t know what I would do,” Walsh recently told Cheat Sheet.

“We’re chatting a little bit about the possibility of coming back for something, but I don’t know yet.”

The star also teased that "changes" are on the horizon on Season 19.

“I just know that there’s going to be massive, just a lot in store for the next season, a lot of changes, a lot of really cool, I think new beginnings and different… just different places that the show is going to go.”

We'll need to tune in to watch Grey's Anatomy Season 19 Episode 1 when it airs Thursday, October 6, at 9 p.m.

What are your thoughts on the new additions?

Which cast members do you think are leaving?

Hit the comments.