It’s been four seasons since Jesse Williams was a series regular on Grey’s Anatomy, but fans still can’t get enough of Dr. Jackson Avery.
To Williams’ credit, he’s made sure that fans remember that Jackson is still an active part of the Grey’s universe with his drop-in visits. He’s appeared in at least one episode per season since “leaving” the show, except for Season 20.
Jackson runs the Fox Foundation out of Boston, which was funding Meredith’s (Ellen Pompeo) Alzheimer’s Research until the beginning of Season 21. That gave him plenty of reason to pop in on occasion to check on her, or make a trip to Seattle to see his old colleagues at Grey Sloan Memorial. It’s also worth noting that the hospital has yet to find a suitable plastic surgeon to replace Jackson, so he’s their go-to guy when they have a special reconstruction case.
The creative team behind Grey’s Anatomy has always said that the door is open for alumni actors to return to the operating table. Williams is also in favor of keeping communication open.
“It’s possible…Anything is possible,” he teased to Parade shortly before the premiere of his new show Hotel Costeria on Prime Video. He’s also an executive producer on the series, which is demanding a lot of his attention.
“Right now, I’m definitely focused on launching this show and this project, and being a producer on this show,” he continued. “Similarly, you’re wearing a lot of hats in responsible for a lot of what’s pulled together and casting and costumes and the wardrobe and everything, and to see it through and get to this point in time, right now, to days away from launch, it’s a pretty good feeling.”
With the actor so focused on Hotel Costeria, it sounds like he may not even have time to step behind the camera for Grey’s. He’s directed five episodes of the hospital drama in the past, but there’s no news on whether he’ll return to direct again in the upcoming Season 22.
“I’m not close to anything,” the actor responded when pressed about potentially coming back to Grey’s full-time. Fans have been clamoring for a Jackson and April (Sarah Drew) spinoff since the characters confirmed they reunited romantically at the end of Season 18. April is using Fox Foundation resources to help low-income people of Boston access healthcare, so it could be a different spin on the healthcare system if the Shondaland team and ABC wanted to expand the Grey’s Anatomy universe again.
Williams is not the only one who doesn’t have time to contemplate the potential spinoff right now. Drew has also said that she loves coming back to the show, but is also finding fulfillment in other projects.
“I’ve been back twice since I left, and both times were super special and super amazing,” the actress told Extra in 2024. I love jumping back into my family over there, but I’m also very busy doing lots of other really fun things.”
So don’t hold your breath for a Jackson and April spinoff any time soon. However, either of them could pop up on Grey’s at some point in Season 22, which premieres Thursday, Oct. 9 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. Episodes are available to stream the next day on Hulu.
