'Grey's Anatomy' Is All Set to Film Season 17 — Date, Cast and More Details on the New Season

Fans of the medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" will be glad to hear that filming of the seventeenth season is set to start soon, especially after the previous season came to such an abrupt halt.

It's official! According to reports, "Grey's Anatomy" will begin the filming of their new season soon, and they can start as early as this month.

The finale of season 16 aired early in April, but the season was meant to last an additional four episodes. But due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, they made do with twenty-one versus the planned twenty-five episodes.

WHEN WILL PRODUCTION START?

Variety reported that production on season 17 could begin as early as next week in Los Angeles, while executive producer Krista Vernoff and actress Ellen Pompeo both alluded to the same recently.

News about the production of season 17 came a few days after ABC released their unscripted fall schedule. Even though "Grey's Anatomy featured on the previous version of their schedule, they are absent from their slot next to "Station 19" in the new schedule.

WHERE WILL THEIR FOCUS BE?

During a recent TV Academy panel, executive producer Krista Vernoff assured that the drama's seventeenth season would "address" the novel coronavirus pandemic, especially due to the medical nature of both as she said:

“I feel like our show has an opportunity and a responsibility to tell some of those stories.”

POMPEO REVEALED HER EXIT STRATEGY

Ellen Pompeo is one of the few remaining original members of the cast. Portraying the role of Dr. Meredith Grey, she's appeared in virtually every episode of all sixteen seasons. Even so, it doesn't mean she intends to stay until the end.

During a recent chat with Dax Shepard on his "Armchair Expert" podcast, Pompeo said that she would leave the show before it reached its expiry date and added:

"I think to dip out sooner rather than later, at this point, having done what we've done, to leave when the show is still on top, is definitely a goal."

CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION

Whether Camilla Luddington will feature in the early episodes remains to be seen, as she just gave birth to her second child with husband Matthew Alan late last month.

On August 25, the actress updated fans with news that her "little lion" they decided to name Lucas, finally arrived. Matthew Alan and Camilla Luddington are already parents to Hayden, who is elated at being a big sister.

Even though Luddington previously admitted that being pregnant amid the pandemic had its challenge, she is grateful for the extra quality time she got to spend with her family, especially because of the pregnancy.