Here to fill the dreamy void left by Patrick Dempsey’s dramatic departure from Grey’s Anatomy, Jason George has been promoted to series regular for the upcoming 12th season of Shonda Rhimes’ medical drama.
But stay woke, Grey’s fans: If the fates of George O’Malley (death by bus), Denny Duquette (death by heart transplant), Lexie Grey and Mark “McSteamy” Sloan (death by plane crash), and Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd (death by truck) have taught us anything, it’s that we probably shouldn’t get too attached to Dr. Ben Warren, even if he’s supposedly “here” “to stay.” (At least Rhimes can never be accused of ignoring the realities of death on this show.)
George first appeared as Warren in season six as a love interest for Chandra Wilson’s Miranda Bailey; Bailey and Warren married in season nine. Recently, he has had to split time between Grey’s and Mistresses, another ABC drama, which will return for an Alyssa Milano-less third season later this month.
George broke the news himself on Twitter, in a message thanking the one true television overlord, Shonda Rhimes. Grey’s Anatomy will return to its Thursday night stronghold as the 8 p.m. opener for Rhimes’ #TGIT lineup this fall.