Grey’s Anatomy’s Owen Actor Discusses Whether He’ll Stay Into Season 20

Grey’s Anatomy star Kevin McKidd has reflected on his intentions with the show going forward into season 20. McKidd has played Owen Hunt, a surgeon with PTSD, since season 5 of the long-running medical drama, which is currently airing season 19. This season has already suffered major losses, including the exit of Ellen Pompeo as the title character Meredith Grey and Kelly McCreary as Meredith’s half-sister Maggie Pierce.

The Wrap recently sat down with McKidd following the actor taking the director’s chair for Grey’s Anatomy season 19 episode 12. During the conversation, he reflected on whether he would be returning for the recently renewed Grey’s Anatomy season 20. While he’s not entirely sure, he shared that he loves the working environment on the series and “I have no intentions of going anywhere.” Read his full quote below:

I don’t know. I mean, I still love playing the part. I think [Owen is] a challenging and quite polarizing character, which I like. He isn’t perfect and he makes mistakes and he can be strong-willed, but he also has a big heart. You know, he’s a paradox. I love the cast. I love the work environment here. And I’m really, really proud of the show and what it stands for at this point, and the quality that we’ve kept up, so I have no intentions of going anywhere. And I love to direct as you can see, so long may that continue.

What Longstanding Grey’s Anatomy Characters Will Be Left In Season 20?

While McKidd seems to intend to stay, the official cast has not yet been announced for Grey’s Anatomy season 20. It could always end up panning out that he doesn’t return, meaning the show will suffer another serious loss. Season 19 has also not yet concluded, so some major deaths could be in the cards.

However, if the cast stays the way it is, there will only be two characters left who have been around since the very beginning. This would be Chandra Bailey’s Miranda Bailey and James Pickens Jr.’s Richard Webber, both of whom were introduced in the pilot alongside Ellen Pompeo. Should Kevin McKidd leave, the other star with the most seniority as members of the main cast would then become Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson, who was promoted to a main role in season 10 after a recurring role in season 9.

There is also the possibility that Kate Walsh’s Addison Montgomery could continue to appear into season 20. The character was introduced in season 1 before Walsh left in season 8, but she made a surprise reappearance this season. Even though Grey’s Anatomy will look profoundly different without Meredith, the show has been running long enough that at the very least it still has a strong ensemble of familiar faces to lean on.