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Will Katherine Heigl return to 'Grey's Anatomy'? Fans speculate OG's return to ABC show following Emmys 2024 appearance with former cast

Fans want Katherine Heigl to return to 'Grey's Anatomy' as OG star reunites with former cast at Emmys 2024

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Katherine Heigl reunited her former 'Grey's Anatomy' co-star Ellen Pompeo and the show's cast at the 2024 Emmy Awards on January 15. This has led to speculation among fans online that the star, who left the show 14 years ago amid rumors of an onset conflict, may return for the upcoming season.

Katherine, who played medical intern Dr. Izzie Stevens on the program from 2005 to 2010, looked stunning in a scarlet gown as she joined Ellen, Chandra Wilson, Justin Chambers, and James Pickens Jr. The diva appeared overjoyed as she locked arms with James, looking stunning in her strapless gown and diamond jewelry.

The ensemble came together to celebrate the show's 20th season, making it the longest-running prime-time medical drama in television history. They also handed out Emmys for supporting actors in a limited or anthology series or film.

One user on X asked, "EXCUSE ME! KATHERINE HEIGL IS THERE AS PART OF A GREYS REUNION!?!? COULD THIS OPEN THE DOOR FOR AN IZZIE APPEARANCE?!?!" Another user chimed in, "I interpreted her sigh as “it’s good to be back”, I see a Katherine Heigl renaissance."

Some argued, "I am SO here for the Ellen Pompeo / Katherine Heigl friendship. They better be back properly for the inevitable last season of Grey's Anatomy. Especially if it will be the upcoming 20th season." A fourth user tweeted, "Katherine Heigl rejoining the Grey's Anatomy cast for this segment is iconic. I was hoping they'd end with the surprise annoucement that since time heals all wounds Izzy and Alex were coming back to the show."  

One wondered, "It’s so cool to see #KatherineHeigl back on stage with her #GreysAnatomy co-stars! Maybe they can get her to return?!" "Put Katherine Heigl back on Greys!" begged another.

Why did Katherine Heigl leave Grey's Anatomy'?

Katherine sought to be freed from her contract years ago, stating that she wanted to spend more time with her family and that seeing Izzie come and go was disrespectful to series fans.

Katerine told Variety of her contentious exit last year, "I was so naive. I got on my soapbox and I had some things to say, and I felt really passionate about this stuff," Katherine added.

"I felt really strongly. I felt so strongly that I also got a megaphone out on my soapbox. There was no part of me that imagined a bad reaction."

"I felt really justified in how I felt about it and where I was coming from. I’ve spent most of my life—I think most women do — being in that people-pleasing mode. It’s really disconcerting when you feel like you have really displeased everybody. It was not my intention to do so, but I had some things to say, and I didn’t think I was going to get such a strong reaction."

"I was in my late 20s. It took me until probably my mid-to-late-30s to really get back to tuning out all of the noise and going, 'But who are you? Are you this bad person? Are you ungrateful? Are you unprofessional? Are you difficult?' Because I was confused! I thought maybe I was. I literally believed that version, and felt such shame for such a long time, and then had to go, 'Wait. Who am I listening to? I’m not even listening to myself. I know who I am.'"

Katherine also discussed how the "confidence" she gained from being on the successful program led to her becoming "mouthy."

"Then Grey’s hit, and the success happened. I think that gave me this confidence that was a false sense of confidence. It was rooted in something that couldn't, and maybe wouldn't, always last for me. So then I started getting real mouthy, because I did have a lot to say, and there were certain boundaries and things that I was not OK with being crossed. I didn’t know how to fight that."

Why did Ellen Pompeo leave 'Grey's Anatomy'?

In an interview with Drew Barrymore, Ellen discussed her decision to leave the show owing to weariness. "Sitting in trailers, traveling back and forth, shooting this in Atlanta, shooting that in Vancouver," she grumbled.

Is there going to be a Season 20 of 'Grey's Anatomy'?

After the WGA and SAG-AFTRA reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), 'Grey's Anatomy' confirmed that season 20 will premiere on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 9 pm ET.