After the end of Grey’s Anatomy season 18, the fate of the residents remains up in the air for the season 19. Many residents have come and gone from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Some residents leave without a whisper, while others stand out and get their own fully fleshed storylines and goodbyes. The most recent batch of residents has seen more screen time than many others before them - but their season 19 storylines are now in jeopardy thanks to the latest development in the Grey's Anatomy season 18 finale, “You Are the Blood.”
The residency program at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital officially shuts down in the Grey's Anatomy season 18 ending. Jamarah Blake from the accreditation council lists all the problems she saw, including a closed ER and risky and unnecessary surgeries. She insists the hospital has become a dysfunctional family with power struggles. The residents pack up their belongings alongside flashbacks to Meredith and the other original residents, while the end of the residency program prompts Chief of Surgery Miranda Bailey to quit and hand her keys and responsibilities to Meredith Grey.
The end of the residency program leaves the future of the current Grey's Anatomy residents unknown as they will no longer have jobs. Levi Schmitt, Zander Perez, Taryn Helm, and Mabel Tseng are four key residents orphaned due to the residency program shutting down, but none of the actors portraying these residents have been confirmed to return yet. While Jamarah assures Bailey she will help the orphaned residents; it may not be the end of the residents’ time at Grey Sloan. Rumored as the final Grey's Anatomy season, season 19 will likely follow Meredith as Chief of Surgery trying to return Grey Sloan to the glory of her days in residence. As a result, this work involves reinstating the residency program and the return of the residents - meaning several Grey's Anatomy residents have a shot at returning for season 19.
Levi Schmitt, played by Jake Borelli, is considered part of the main cast instead of being billed as a recurring character. In the past, Grey’s Anatomy gives any main cast a proper send-off by wrapping up their storyline and saying their goodbyes. As one of the residents with the most screentime, the Grey’s Anatomy season 18 finale implies that there is more to explore in Levi’s storyline. At the end of the episode, Levi vowed to fight the ban on sexually active gay men being allowed to donate blood. Levi also has unfinished business with ex-boyfriend Nico Kim and a close friendship with Jo Wilson, making him a prime candidate to return for the season.
Jo Wilson is another Grey's Anatomy season 18 main cast member and a second-year OB/GYN resident. While the beginning of season 19 may put a pause on Jo's residency, actress Camilla Luddington is confirmed to return as the expected Grey's Anatomy curtain call plays out. At the end of Grey's Anatomy season 18, Jo began working as both a resident and a general surgeon attending to try and help save the residency program, and with close ties to the hospital and a daughter to care for, Jo will likely continue working as a general surgeon in season 19.
Most of Grey’s Anatomy season 19’s casting news has yet to be announced to date. Season 18 began filming on August 11, 2021, meaning Grey's Anatomy season 19 can also expect to start filming around the same time of year. More casting news should arrive as the production of season 19 kicks off in summer 2022, meaning there may well be more confirmed residents returning for the new Grey's Anatomy season 19.