Ellen Pompeo absent from Grey’s Anatomy Season 23 cast photo

ABC released a group photo of the Grey’s Anatomy cast as production for season 23 began, but lead actress Ellen Pompeo was not included. Pompeo stepped down as a series regular after season 19, though she remains an executive producer and has made occasional appearances since then. The network indicated she will likely return later in the season, but her absence from the photo suggests her involvement may be limited at the start.

Pompeo is simultaneously preparing to star in and executive‑produce the Hulu comedy‑drama “Chicks,” which is slated to begin filming in September in New York. The new series was developed specifically for her and follows two estranged half‑sisters in Boston. Meanwhile, Grey’s Anatomy is scheduled to return in the fall, continuing its run as the longest‑running primetime medical drama.