Jessica Capshaw is six weeks into filming her new drama, 9-1-1: Nashville, which brings her back to ABC after 10 seasons on Grey’s Anatomy, and she’s already bonding with her costars.
A Reunion Years in the Making
When ‘9-1-1: Nashville’ dropped the bombshell that Jessica Capshaw and Chris O’Donnell would be sharing the screen again, fans of both actors and the hit emergency drama series couldn’t contain their excitement. But what does this reunion really mean for the show—and what can we expect next?
Jessica Capshaw recently opened up about working with her longtime friend and former Grey’s Anatomy co-star, teasing fans with what she calls “a collision of universes that’ll blow your mind.” From behind-the-scenes stories to major storyline hints, this article dives deep into her interview, speculates on the direction of ‘9-1-1: Nashville’, and unpacks why this reunion could change everything.
Why the Jessica Capshaw–Chris O’Donnell Reunion Matters
More Than Just a Nostalgic Nod
Jessica Capshaw and Chris O’Donnell have a professional history that goes back decades. Their undeniable on-screen chemistry has fueled rumors and hopes among fans, and this reunion taps directly into that emotional connection.
Power Pairing That Drives the Narrative
Their pairing isn’t just for nostalgia. Capshaw hinted that their characters’ paths intertwine in a way that’s essential to the season’s biggest storyline.
“It’s not just a cameo. It’s layered, intense, and personal,” Capshaw teased.
Inside Capshaw’s Character Arc
A Strong Female Lead with Real-World Depth
Capshaw’s role as Dr. Emery Quinn—a trauma psychiatrist turned EMS chief—brings a refreshing perspective. She’s grounded, smart, and absolutely no-nonsense.
Trauma, Tension, and Transformation
From the first episode, we see Dr. Quinn dealing with the city’s chaos while wrestling with her own past. Capshaw described her arc as “deeply personal and emotionally raw.”
What Chris O’Donnell Brings to the Table
From ‘NCIS: LA’ to ‘9-1-1: Nashville’
Chris O’Donnell stepping into a high-stakes emergency drama isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. His character, federal responder Jack Morrison, has a backstory tied to homeland security—and possibly to Dr. Quinn herself.
A Role Rooted in Secrets
Capshaw hinted that Jack Morrison is “not who he seems,” suggesting some thrilling plot twists on the horizon.
Behind-the-Scenes Magic
Chemistry That Can’t Be Faked
Capshaw praised the “natural rhythm” she shares with O’Donnell, saying it made their scenes “electric from take one.”
How the Cast Reacted to the Reunion
The rest of the cast was reportedly “in awe” watching these two veterans fall into sync, with one crew member calling it “like watching two pros dance.”
On the new 9-1-1 spinoff (premiering this fall), Capshaw stars as Blythe, the wife of Chris O’Donnell‘s Captain Don Sharpe. Michael Provost plays their son, Ryan. “My first work was with Michael, and I adore him. I feel so, so lucky to have such a talented and kind and just awesome person to work with,” she told her former Grey’s costar Camilla Luddington on their Call It What It Is podcast. So far, the cast has been getting to know one another, and unlike Grey’s Anatomy, which is mostly filmed in a studio, “Right now, this show is mostly on location, so we’re always in different places,” and that means dealing with the weather (including lightning and rain).
Capshaw also spoke about working with O’Donnell. The two previously worked together on The Practice. “I adore [him] and have known him for a really long time,” she said. Looking back, “I remember feeling like a baby actress, and I remember feeling like he was not a baby actor. He was accomplished, and I’d seen so many movies he’d done that I love so much.”
She specifically pointed to Circle of Friends, in which he starred with Minnie Driver. “I remember [it] being super romantic. … It has Normal People vibes. He’s so charming. He’s just super charming, and he’s very funny and a real professional,” she added.
Capshaw also spoke about working with LeAnn Rimes, noting that the actress and singer is also balancing her concert schedule with her work on 9-1-1: Nashville.
“It actually probably says a lot, which is that she’s game, and here she is, coming in and out,” she noted. “She literally did a show in Hawaii and then got on a plane and had, like, two connections to then arrive in Nashville at who knows what time in the morning, and then woke up for a 5AM call, and then was having a fitting before she had hair and makeup, and then there we were in a scene. I love the work ethic, and I love the just like wanting to be there and being game and it’s a really great group.”
Capshaw raved about Kimberly Williams-Paisley, sharing that she plays show’s dispatcher. “I love [her] so much,” she told Luddington. “I’ve already had dinner with her multiple times. She and I have gone on a hike. She’s so awesome.” Like the original 9-1-1 and its spinoff, Lone Star (which ran five seasons on Fox), “We have these two worlds happening where there’s this emotional life and this family and then you have the squad, you have the firefighters, and we actually have had such great occasion to intermingle,” Capshaw revealed. “And so I’m already completely, completely in love with Juani [Feliz] and Hailey [Kilgore] and Hunter [McVey]. ”
