Grey’s Anatomy Spinoff About Firefighters Heading to ABC
Shondaland fans are about to get another set of Seattle heroes to gush over.
ABC announced at their Upfront on Tuesday that they’ve ordered an as-yet unnamed Grey’s Anatomy firefighter spinoff direct to series.
The decision to do the spinoff comes as Grey’s Anatomy continues to be the network’s number one scripted drama as it heads into its fourteenth season.
The program will be helmed by Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers who previously produced the first Grey’s Anatomy spinoff, Private Practice.
Private Practice followed Derek Shepherd’s ex-wife, Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh), as she traveled to Los Angeles to join a boutique medical practice. The series ended in 2013, after six seasons.
This new spinoff, like Grey’s Anatomy, will be set in Seattle and focus on a team of firefighters, following their personal and professional lives. It is unclear which Grey’s Anatomy episode the series with launch out of, but the ending of Season 13 Episode 21 “True Colors” seems like a logical place to start.
Shondaland veteran Stacy McKee, who has been with Grey’s Anatomy for the past thirteen seasons, will pen the script, and serve as executive producer. McKee has written over 30 Grey’s Anatomy scripts including Season 5’s “Elevator Love Letter,” and Season 11’s “She’s Leaving Home.”
An episode count and premiere date have not yet been determined, but this will make five shows on the network for Rhimes, who will introduce a freshman legal drama called For the People this fall, in addition to the summer premiere of Still Star-Crossed.
If Still Star-Crossed is renewed, that will make six shows on the network, a first in Rhimes’ career.
GREY’S ANATOMY – (ABC/Richard Cartwright) BRIDGET REGAN, KEVIN MCKIDD
This is not the first time Rhimes has considered spinning off a show. She’s previously considered several spinoffs for both Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, including exploring the wartime career of Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) and his history with PTSD, and exploring Eli Pope (Joe Morton) during his time as head of B613.
It is possible that ABC is looking to develop its own set of procedurals like NBC has with Dick Wolf’s Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med, and with This is Us moving to Thursdays, it looks like NBC and ABC are setting up to be Thursday night contenders.
What do you think of this new spinoff? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Lauren Busser
Lauren Busser is an Associate Editor at Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer of fiction and nonfiction whose work has appeared in Bitch Media, Popshot Quarterly, Brain Mill Press Voices, and The Hartford Courant.