ABC has ordered three additional episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy,” bringing the drama’s 15th season to a total of 25 episodes.
The super-sized episode order is the show’s largest since its third season, which also ran for 25 episodes back in 2006-07. The show’s breakout second season, which included a hugely watched post-Super Bowl episode, boasted a whopping 27 episodes.
With a midseason return set for Jan. 17, “Grey’s” is on track to become the longest-running primetime medical drama in TV history later this year.
Series star Ellen Pompeo, who made headlines last January when she signed a multi-year deal making her the highest-paid actress on a primetime drama, has previously hinted that she may be ready to start thinking about moving on from her long tenure on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
“I’m feeling like we’re coming to the end of the stories that we’ve told and that we can tell,” Pompeo said in a recent interview in Entertainment Weekly, citing her family and burgeoning producing career. “So it’s definitely time for change in my life.”
Pompeo is under contract through Season 16 of the show. Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Kevin McKidd, Jesse Williams, Caterina Scorsone, Camilla Luddington, Kelly McCreary, Kim Raver and Giacomo Gianniotti also star.
“Grey’s Anatomy” was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes. Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, Krista Vernoff, Debbie Allen, Zoanne Clack, Fred Einesman, Andy Reaser and Meg Marinis are executive producers. “Grey’s Anatomy” is produced by ABC Studios.