**Katherine Heigl’s Absence Causes Drama Behind the Scenes of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’**

The popular medical drama series, ‘Grey's Anatomy', has seen numerous cast changes over its extensive run of 17 seasons.

Recently, the return of Patrick Dempsey as McDreamy in the latest season sparked excitement among fans, despite his character's on-screen death several seasons ago.

In a detailed conversation with the LA Times, showrunner Krista Vernoff shed light on Patrick Dempsey's surprising comeback after years, while also addressing the unresolved storyline of Katherine Heigl's character, Dr. Isobel ‘Izzie' Stevens.

Vernoff disclosed that there was a plan to bring back Heigl's character much earlier to conclude her narrative alongside Alex.

However, this plan hit a roadblock when Heigl declined to participate in the farewell episode, leaving the production team in a lurch.

Expressing her disappointment, Vernoff clarified that she wasn't looking to criticize Heigl for her decision, acknowledging that she was unaware of the circumstances surrounding Heigl's choice.

The sudden refusal from Heigl to reprise her role just before shooting commenced left the team scrambling to adjust their plans.

Contrary to Vernoff's account, sources close to Heigl contradicted the showrunner's statement, stating that Heigl was available and ready to return to set following a period of parental leave after adopting her daughter.

Ultimately, Izzie's story was eventually resolved in the previous season, intertwining with Alex Karev's narrative.

It was revealed that Heigl had requested an early release from her contract on the show, signaling her desire to move on from the series.

Back in 2015, Shonda Rhimes, the series creator and then-showrunner, had emphasized that Izzie's storyline had reached its conclusion and showed no interest in bringing the character back for closure.

With the recent blame placed on Heigl for the failed return, it seems unlikely that Izzie will make a comeback to ‘Grey's Anatomy'.

The chances of seeing Izzie back on screen seem as slim as the chances of resurrecting past beloved characters like Denny Duquette, George O'Malley, or Derek Shepherd.