Natalie Morales, Alex Landi and Freddy Miyares will also guest star, ABC announced Saturday.
When “Grey’s Anatomy” viewers last saw Jessica Capshaw as Arizona Robbins — at the end of the ABC drama’s 14th season — she was moving to New York City so her daughter Sofia could be with both of her parents. But at the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena on Saturday, ABC announced that Capshaw will be among the show’s Season 20 guest stars and will appear on one episode.
Alex Landi, who’s appeared as orthopedic surgeon Nico Kim since Season 15, will also return to the show as a guest star.
Natalie Morales (“Dead to Me,” “The Morning Show”) and Freddy Miyares (“When They See Us”), meanwhile, will make their “Grey’s Anatomy” debuts. Morales will play Monica Beltran, who, according to her character description, is “a pediatric surgeon whose pragmatism and level-headedness have made her one of the best in her field.” And Miyares will be among the recurring cast as Dorian, who is “an intelligent, warm and likable patient who is involved in a serious accident and is struggling with his future.”
It will be Capshaw’s return as Arizona that will garner the most attention from fans, since she was let go from “Grey’s Anatomy” in a cast culling before Season 15 — one that also included series regular Sarah Drew (who played April Kepner). ABC has not specified when viewers will see her. Season 20 of “Grey’s Anatomy” will premiere on March 14.
Capshaw first joined the medical drama in its fifth season for what was meant to be a three-episode arc. She stayed for the rest of the season, and ended up becoming up a series regular in Season 6, making Arizona one of the the first lesbian characters on network television in leading roles.
Along with Sara Ramírez’s Callie Torres, Arizona was one half of the supercouple nicknamed “Calzona.” As Capshaw said about Arizona in a statement when she left “Grey’s Anatomy,” “She was one of the first members of the LGBTQ community to be represented in a series regular role on network television. Her impact on the world is forever.”
Grey’s Anatomy confirms returns of two past characters for season 20
Grey’s Anatomy bosses have announced the return of actors Jessica Capshaw and Alex Landi for season 20.
Fan-favourite Capshaw, who played paediatric attending Dr Arizona Robbins for seasons 5-14, was written out of the show back in 2018, while Dr Nico Kim actor Landi has been absent from the show since 2022.
The Hollywood Reporter additionally confirmed Dead to Me actress Natalie Morales and Freddy Miyares (of When They See Us fame) will feature as guest-stars in future episodes as paediatric surgeon Monica Beltran and “likeable” patient Dorian respectively.
Related: Grey’s Anatomy spin-off Station 19 confirmed to be ending
Landi previously teased his show return in January via Instagram, sharing a photo of him on set with his Nico Kim name-badge. “SEASON 20 @greysabc,” read the caption.
Capshaw is yet to publicly acknowledge her return. The actress was originally let go from Grey’s Anatomy for “creative reasons” alongside Dr April Kepner actress Sarah Drew.
Showrunner Shonda Rhimes addressed the surprise axing in a statement on social media at the time: “It’s always hard for me to say goodbye to any of my characters. Both Arizona Robbins and April Kepner are not only beloved but iconic – both the LGBTQ and devout Christian communities are underrepresented on TV.”
Related: Grey’s Anatomy offers first look at Ellen Pompeo return in season 20
“I will be forever grateful to both Jessica and Sarah for bringing these characters to life with such vibrant performance and for inspiring women around the globe. They will always be a part of our Shondaland family.”
Season 20 also marks the grand return of Ellen Pompeo as Dr Meredith Grey, who decided to take a break in 2023.
“She’s in the first episode, and she’s in the one I’m going to direct,” teased director Debbie Allen to TVLine.
“We have to let her go and do some other things, but she’s still our queen. She’s still our number 1 on the call sheet.”
Grey’s Anatomy season 20 and Station 19’s final season will premiere on March 14 on ABC in the US. Both shows stream on Disney+ in the UK.
