Looks like Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital is about to lose another doctor come Season 21. According to Deadline, actress Midori Francis, who plays Dr. Mika Yasuda, will exit the medical show next season.
As of this writing, ABC has yet to confirm Francis’s Grey’s Anatomy exit.
Grey’s Anatomy: Midori Francis’s Tenure With The Medical Drama
The actress first arrived on the Grey’s Anatomy scene in 2022 during Season 19. The doctor was one of five new hospital interns who debuted on the show.
The news of Francis’s departure comes mere days after Deadline released a report that Dr. Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli) would be leaving the show after seven seasons.
Both Borelli and Francis are reportedly in negotiations currently to return for Grey’s Season 21 to close their respective storylines with the series. It’s unknown if a door will be left open for either character to return in the future.
Grey’s Anatomy: What’s Up With All The Departures?
As per Deadline, Borelli’s departure may be linked to budget cuts. As the drama is quite pricey to produce, and it apparently is a “common practice” for networks to ask for financial reductions on long-running shows, it appears that ABC ordered a trim in Grey’s budget during their Season 21 renewal.
The cut has affected the cast, mostly, with established show regulars allegedly facing a decrease in episodic guarantees. Still, it’s important to note that Deadline did state that Francis’s exit from Grey’s was “amicable”. It seems that the actress is looking to take the next steps in her career, and she has already signed with WME, earlier in 2024.
Season 20 is wrapping up very soon, with the finale scheduled for Thursday, May 30. While the show has been renewed for Season 21, the series will return in the fall with a slight change, airing at 10 p.m. (ET), versus their current 9 p.m. (ET) time slot.
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