Katherine Heigl will be taking a five-episode hiatus from Grey's Anatomy to film the Greg Berlanti-directed romantic comedy Life as We Know It, EW reports this afternoon.
Grey’s Anatomy producers have accommodated Heigl’s busy schedule before, but this is the first time they have given her permission to leave for an extended period.
Heigl’s absence "will be explained on screen," although it’s not yet clear how.
The fact that Katherine was granted such a lengthy leave is surprising in light of the public tongue-lashing ABC president Steve McPherson gave her last month for complaining about a 17-hour work day on the set filming this coming season.
Also, Heigl’s departure - which starts this month and will kick in on screen around November - will almost certainly overlap with co-star Ellen Pompeo’s maternity leave.
Translation: Grey’s Anatomy will be without Izzie and Mer at the same time.
What do you think prompts Izzie Stevens to temporarily check out?
Of course, Grey’s Anatomy boss Shonda Rhimes said over the summer that this kind of change would be in the air this season: "Eventually, everybody is going to leave the show,” she said, referencing T.R. Knight’s exit and the temporary loss of Pompeo.
"So we’re looking at [ways] we can mess with the structure now. Season 6 is about finding the longevity of the show and figuring out if there is a future beyond these characters.”
Not so coincidentally, Grey’s Anatomy recently announced it was adding three new doctors to its rotation at Seattle Grace Hospital: Nota Zehetner, Robert Baker, and Jesse Williams are joining Seattle Grace as recurring residents /medical professionals.
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26 Comments
September 2nd, 2009 4:28 PM
that sucks!!!!
September 2nd, 2009 4:30 PM
I would not be surprised if KH leave becomes permanent.... It will be an interesting and transitional season in many ways I think.
September 2nd, 2009 4:38 PM
I hate Izzie so this isn't exactly a sad moment but wtf is going on?
In another blog it said that Mercy West and SGH are mergering and Izzie gets fired in the process...does Mer too? And Derek becomes Chief of both?
This is getting quite confusing may I add. I won't miss Izzie, I expected her to go home and get better but still, some bits or something.
Transitional indeed.
September 2nd, 2009 4:38 PM
Awful! I do NOT want Katherine off the show - losing TR was bad enough!
September 2nd, 2009 4:40 PM
No Worries she is not leaving the show. She has taken the absence to film her new film Life As We Know It.
She'll be back....The whole getting fired bit I don't believe it may just be heresay...lets remember Izzie isn't about to BOUNCE back from CANCER that fast....maybe shes not exactly FIRED but forced to take a leave of absence..
September 2nd, 2009 4:42 PM
Oh and I just read that she "gets fired, laid off, forced to leave"...she is probably laid off as in they can't afford to keep her on not working...she'll be back.
September 2nd, 2009 5:02 PM
I read Mercy West and SGH are going to bond or something like that and other doctors are gonna be in the picture!
I don't like that at all!
September 2nd, 2009 5:07 PM
SAD FACE!!!!!!!! I'll miss her...Glad its not for good though.
September 2nd, 2009 5:44 PM
sorry for my english
I don't like Izzie, don't mind if she isn't in the show.
I only hope dr sloan don't make a surprise trip to new york, I put this two news before (a few hours ago eric dane had another (drugs) scandal) but this thing of doctors taking absence make things worse to me because abc could have firing ideas
I'm really worried with this thing now
September 2nd, 2009 6:37 PM
i think she's gonna die