Kevin McKidd Says Grey’s Anatomy Is ‘Going Back to the Beginning’ For Season 19

Published on August 15, 2022.

ph: Nicole Wilder/©ABC/courtesy Everett Collection

Kevin McKidd has opened up about Grey’s Anatomy’s plan to return to its roots.

McKidd opened up to PEOPLE at the 2nd Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards in Beverly Hills. He revealed that the long-running drama’s upcoming season will act as a “sort of reignition of the show.”

“We have this amazing group of new interns, brilliant, young, vibrant actors who are really passionate,” he shared. “So it’s making room for that. It’s almost like we’re going back to the beginning, if that makes sense.”

“We’re not really rebooting, but it’s definitely that pilot episode when Sandra Oh and T.R. Knight first kind of walked into the hospital. We’re kind of doing that again. And it’s very exciting to feel that we’re all part of that,” McKidd shared.

Grey’s Anatomy has added a list of newcomers to its upcoming 19th season, including: Niko Terho, Adelaide Kane, Midori Francis, Harry Shum Jr. and Alexis Floyd. At the same time, Ellen Pompeo, who plays the iconic character Meredith Grey, shared that she will be taking a step back from the show for the first time since it premiered in 2005.

McKidd opened up about the change and Pompeo’s reduced role on the show: “Definitely her character is such a dominant, iconic character on the show. It’s definitely going to make some room for different stories to be told. So I think everyone is excited about that.”

Season 19 of Grey’s Anatomy will premiere Oct. 6 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.