The cast of the medical drama Grey's Anatomy seems to be shrinking down due to budget cuts.
In the episode that aired on October 16, the fan favourite character of Amelia Shepherd, played by Caterina Scorsone, went on a sabbatical.
This comes after the shocking catastrophic explosion that was caused by one of her patients, with the lingering trauma leading to her needing an intervention from Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary).
A source that spoke to Deadline claimed that the plot decision took place due to the budget cuts, with her absence stretching until 2026.
The show has done what is typical for ones that run for as long as this one has, breaking the minimum guarantees that are usually held for long term cast members.
The guarantees for the series regulars have been dropped from 18 to 14 episodes per season, according to the outlet.
Scorsone joined the series in 2010 for season 7, after appearing in the spinoff for the series, Private Practice.
She plays the sister to the late Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) and Grey’s sister in law, struggling with a past of drug abuse and trauma.
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