They were saying things like, kids, their first year out of medical school, are seeing more death in the first year than many doctors see in a decade, and it just felt like we had to tell this story, she continued. We have to tell this story, and so the conversation became, how do we tell this very painful, brutal story that has hit our medical community so intenselyand as they keep saying, permanently changed medicine? How do we do that and provide some escapism? How do we do that and create romance and comedy and joy and fun?

On September 4, Pompeo implied that covering COVID-19 was a no-brainer for the series after being asked about it by a fan. Yes, she replied. The biggest medical crisis the world has ever seen? Yes we are meeting the moment and telling some stories.

The new season begins one month and a half into pandemic. Actor Giacomo Gianniotti, who plays Dr. Andrew DeLuca, teased details of season 17's coronavirus storyline, telling Entertainment Tonight the series will start about a month and a half [into] full COVID,so it's going to take place a little beyond where we left off in the last season."

We might have some flashbacks, he continued. "We might have some things where we're referencing last season, just to havecontext leading up. But we are going to have a littleleap when we start this season in terms of time. We're not picking up right where we left off."

Sorry, there will be less kissing. Vernoff told THR its safe to say the kissing quotient will be down in season 17. Obviously, you cant have people making out, but theres been a lot of sex on Greys Anatomy that doesnt involve kissing, she said. There's a lot of sexy lifting of clothes, and pulling down of clothes, and taking off of things, and standing behind a person in a sexy way. Theres a lot of ways to skin a cat, so to speak.

A few actors are getting bumped up to series regulars. Richard Flood and Anthony Hill are officially Greys Anatomy series regulars, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Meanwhile, Stefania Spampinato, who plays DeLucas sister, Carina, will be transitioning to a series regular role on its firefighter spin-off, Station 19.

Richard Flood as Dr. Cormack Hayes with Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey

Flood plays Dr. Cormack Hayes, the widowed pediatric surgeon whose relationship with Meredith is giving us major enemies-to-lovers vibes, while Hill portrays Dr. Winston Ndugu, Maggies (Kelly McCreary) next love interest.

I am so excited to add Anthony Hill, Stefania Spampinato, and Richard Flood to the Station 19 and Greys Anatomy families, said Krista Vernoff, who serves as showrunner on both dramas. They are huge talents who made a big impact with our fans, with our casts, and with our writers, who are eager to write more for them.

This post will be updated as new information becomes available.

Originally posted here:
'Grey's Anatomy' Season 17: Everything We Know So Far ...