Shonda Rhimes reveals that several Grey’s Anatomy spinoffs were considered but never made it to the screen, including one centered on the Shepherd family. Since premiering in 2005, Grey’s Anatomy has become one of television’s longest-running medical dramas, with its evolving cast and intricate stories leading to multiple spinoffs. The Grey’s Anatomy universe has expanded through Private Practice and Station 19, both of which focused on fan-favorite characters in new settings. However, Rhimes has now revealed that other potential spinoffs never moved forward.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rhimes said that while Private Practice and Station 19 were great additions to the Grey’s Anatomy world, several other ideas never came to fruition. The Shondaland creator revealed she considered multiple new series within the medical universe, including city-based versions of the flagship drama, as well as one series focused on the Shepherd sisters. Read her full comments below:
On Grey’s, there were a bunch. I felt like we could have done Chicago Anatomy, Boston. We could have done that. It just didn’t appeal to me to rebuild the same world. And then we thought about a lot of things.
I thought that there could be a spinoff with Amelia, that was the Shepherd sisters. They’re all doctors. It could have been a Shepherd sisters show, which would’ve been very interesting.
What This Means For The Grey’s Anatomy Universe
The Unmade Spinoffs Could Have Expanded Grey’s Anatomy’s Legacy
Grey’s has already spawned two successful spinoffs. The first, Private Practice, ran for six seasons from 2007 to 2013, and followed Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) as she left the then-named Seattle Grace to join a medical private practice in Los Angeles. More recently, Station 19 premiered in 2018 and ran for seven seasons until 2024, bringing a firefighter-focused drama into the Grey’s universe and setting the stage for multiple Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy crossovers. However, the idea of a Shepherd sisters spinoff could have provided a unique perspective within the franchise.
While Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) has been a key figure on Grey’s Anatomy since season 7, the show has only briefly explored her relationship with her sisters, Nancy, Liz, and Kathleen. Patrick Dempsey’s Derek Shepherd was central to the series for a decade, and his relationship with Amelia was explored throughout the four seasons they shared, but the other Shepherd siblings have rarely been featured. The potential spinoff could’ve been an opportunity to dive deeper into their dynamic.
Given Amelia’s struggles, including her battle with addiction and complex love life, a spinoff centered on her and her sisters would have provided a fresh and emotionally rich take on the Grey’s universe. Depending on the timing of the spinoff, the show could’ve explored why Amelia and her sisters had a strained relationship, as well as how the Shepherd family handled Derek’s death in season 11 of Grey’s Anatomy.
Our Take On The Potential Grey’s Anatomy Spinoffs
Perhaps They Could Happen In The Future
Debbie Allen as Catherine Fox, Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd and Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey in Grey’s Anatomy season 20 episode 10
Given the massive success of Grey’s Anatomy and the devoted fanbase it has built over the last 20 years, it’s fascinating to imagine what could have been. A Shepherd sisters show would’ve been an exciting prospect while diving deeper into one of the show’s most intriguing families. With so much history behind Grey’s, it’s also understandable why Rhimes chose to focus on the main series rather than replicating its formula in another city. Nonetheless, the Grey’s Anatomy universe has demonstrated remarkable longevity, which would mean the possibility of future spinoffs remains open.
