A Grey's Anatomy casting update has revealed that a new arrival in the cast has been promoted for the upcoming season. The long-running medical drama has followed the personal and professional lives of the staff at Seattle's Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital (formerly the Seattle Grace Hospital) since it premiered on ABC in 2005. The upcoming Grey's Anatomy season 21 will feature the return of longtime main cast members Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr., as well a recurring appearance from Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey, who left the series in season 19 though she remains on board as producer and narrator.
Per Variety, Natalie Morales has been upgraded from a guest star to a recurring cast member for Grey's Anatomy season 21. Her character, pediatric surgeon Dr. Monica Beltran, originally made her debut in season 20 and has so far appeared in six episodes. At the time of writing, it is unknown how many episodes of season 21 will feature the return of Dr. Beltran.
Will Natalie Morales Ever Become A Grey’s Anatomy Series Regular?
The Star Has Ample Television Experience
It remains to be seen if this promotion results in Natalie Morales becoming a series regular in the Grey's Anatomy cast. However, if it does, the actor is well-suited to the task, having been a regular on many prominent series in the past. Shows on which she has been a series regular for at least one season include White Collar, The Grinder, Abby's, and The Middleman, and she has played recurring characters on even more, including Parks and Recreation, Dead to Me, and Santa Clarita Diet.
There is also a strong precedent for previous Grey's Anatomy seasons to promote recurring characters to regular cast members. Over the years, many major cast members got their start as recurring stars, including Sara Ramirez, who played Callie Torres as part of the main cast between seasons 3 and 12. Other long-running cast members who got their start as recurring stars include Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson and Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd, both of whom are still set to be series regulars on the show in season 21.
However, Grey's Anatomy has not seen a series regular promoted from a recurring cast member since season 17. While this could indicate a shift in the show's hiring practices, it may simply refect the fact that season 19 saw a major influx of new stars when five new series regulars joined at once, including Harry Shum Jr. and Niko Terho. As one of those stars, Midori Francis, has dropped to recurring for season 21, the time may be ripe for a new promotion in the coming years, should Morales be interested in continuing to appear on the show.
Grey's Anatomy season 21 is set to debut on ABC on Thursday, September 26.
Source: Variety
