Why Meredith Grey Star Ellen Pompeo Is Missing From 'Grey's Anatomy'

Grey's Anatomy fans are going to notice a significant change in the show's 19th season, which premieres on Thursday.

The medical drama will be missing one of its key cast members, Ellen Pompeo, 52, for a number of episodes. Newsweek has everything you need to know.

Why Meredith Grey Star Ellen Pompeo Is Missing From 'Grey's Anatomy'

Pompeo portrays lead character Meredith Grey in Grey's Anatomy, a role she has played since the show first began in 2005.

However, now Grey's Anatomy is in its 19th season, Pompeo has decided to take a step back from appearing in the drama full-time, and she will appear in only eight episodes of the show, Deadline reported in August.

The publication added that while Pompeo wouldn't appear in every episode, she would continue to be a narrator for the series, and she will remain an executive producer on season 19.

It has not been revealed exactly in which eight episodes Pompeo will star, but each Grey's Anatomy season usually has up to 25 episodes in total, so fans will not see her play Meredith Grey for much of the show's 19th outing.

The reason that Pompeo is taking a step back from the show is so she can take on new opportunities, such as in Hulu drama, an as-yet-untitled adaptation of 2009 film Orphan. The show is a limited series in which Pompeo has signed on to take on a lead role.

According to Variety, the show is based on a true story, and it will follow a Midwestern couple who adopt a child they believe to be 8 years old, who they later learn is not who she claims to be.

Pompeo has spoken about her future on Grey's Anatomy in the past, and she has suggested her time on the medical drama will come to an end.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight in August about how Grey's Anatomy could move forward without Meredith Grey, Pompeo said: "Shonda [Rhimes, the showrunner] and I, I think — we'll see, we'll see.

"Continually trying to reinvent the show is the challenge at this point, and, listen, the show speaks to a lot of people, and the young people love the show.

"It's inspired so many generations of healthcare workers, so, I think for the young people, it's a really good piece of content, and we're going to try to keep it going for the young people, not necessarily with me, but keep it going beyond me."

Sarah Drew, who plays Dr. April Kepner in the series, spoke to Entertainment Tonight on September 29 about Pompeo's decision to take a step back from the series, and she shared her support for her co-star and her desire to try out different things.

Drew told the publication: "I mean, she has been killing it for so many years, building that show from the ground up. Of course, she wants to go off and do other incredible things."

Grey's Anatomy season 19 premieres on ABC on October 6 at 9 p.m. ET.