Seattle Grace is losing another doctor — at least temporarily.
Katherine Heigl, 30, is taking a leave of absence from “Grey’s Anatomy” to film a new movie, the romantic comedy “Life as We Know It.” An ABC rep cannot confirm the exact length of time she will be out of pocket — EW.com is reporting a 5-episode hiatus — but tells PEOPLE, “Katherine is taking time off to film a movie. The producers at ‘Grey’s’ have accommodated past things like that before. It’s a cast of 13 and it is a true ensemble so the show is mindful [of other commitments].” Heigl is set to begin this month, last into November and will be explained on screen, EW reports. Meanwhile, fellow castmate Ellen Pompeo is due to give birth to her first child in October and is expected to take maternity leave around the same time — an overlap that’s “all being worked out,” the rep tells PEOPLE. The rep also notes that none of these events were surprises for the show. “Shonda [Rhimes] has had plans in place for a very long time.”
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But don’t expect producers to reveal how they will explain where Izzie is during Katherine’s hiatus. In related casting news, show producers announced that three new characters will join the cast in recurring roles. They will be played by Nora Zehetner, Robert Baker, and Jesse Williams. In June, T.R. Knight announced he was leaving the ABC drama after months of speculation.
