One of the great things about Grey’s Anatomy is that characters who leave are often able to return. That’s certainly been the case for Jessica Capshaw’s Arizona Robbins, who recently returned in Grey’s Anatomy season 20, and was shocked to see how Bailey (Chandra Wilson) was treating the new interns. This return opened the door for many more in the future, but that’s going to be much harder in Grey’s Anatomy season 22 thanks to Capshaw’s latest role.
Capshaw has landed a series regular role in 9-1-1: Nashville, the latest spinoff series in the 9-1-1 universe. While it’s exciting for us to see her back on TV full-time and in a new role, we’re disappointed with what it means for Grey’s Anatomy. After all, Capshaw can’t be in two states to film at the same time, so the two shows will need to be strategic if Arizona is to return to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Jessica Capshaw Has Been Cast As The Lead For 9-1-1: Nashville
She Will Play The Wife Of Chris O’Donnell’s Character
Jessica Capshaw as Arizona Robbins and Sarah Drew as April Kepner in Grey’s Anatomy season 14 episode 24
Back in April 2025, 9-1-1: Nashville announced Jessica Capshaw as its second series regular, not too long after Chris O’Donnell joined the series. Capshaw was announced as the female lead opposite O’Donnell, playing his wife, Blythe Sharpe. As more casting is announced and writing of the series is underway, we now know that Blythe is in the horse racing business, and Capshaw told TVLine that she is “Everything you want to be, and you want to talk to your daughters about being.”
9-1-1 – O’Donnell at the center, with Bassett and Lowe
Very little is known about how she’ll interact with the full cast, though. We do know that not only is she the wife of the captain of the firehouse, but she’s the mother of another firefighter, Ryan (Michael Provost). As the firefighters end up in some nerve-wracking situations, this could lead to her being close to some of the other spouses, if there are any.
9-1-1: Nashville Will Be Filming On Location, Making It Difficult For Capshaw To Reprise Arizona Anytime Soon
Jessica Capshaw Will Be In Nashville Full-Time
While it’s not clear the exact number of 9-1-1: Nashville episodes Capshaw will be in, as a series regular, she will likely be contracted for all episodes. Since the series will film in Nashville, it makes it difficult for Capshaw to return to the halls of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Grey’s Anatomy films in Los Angeles, so even just a one-episode return would be difficult, unless it was timed with a 9-1-1 crossover event that partially took place in Los Angeles, where the flagship 9-1-1 films.
It’s almost impossible when it comes to another city or state, so Capshaw likely won’t want to consider going back to Los Angeles for an episode, unless it is absolutely necessary.
Filming schedules are hectic and draining, and they can require shoots throughout the day and night. While there are some time constraints, they can make it difficult to take on other projects, even those that are in the same location. It’s almost impossible when it comes to another city or state, so Capshaw likely won’t want to consider going back to Los Angeles for an episode, unless it is absolutely necessary.
Grey’s Anatomy Can Still Bring Back Arizona, But It Will Have To Be For A Special Reason
A Cameo Appearance Would Need To Be Written Well
On top of the location issue, there needs to be a genuine reason for a character to return to Grey’s Anatomy. Arizona left for New York, and the last we heard, that is where she still is, with Callie and raising their daughter Sophia. There were no signs that there were issues between the reunited couple, and bringing Arizona back with those issues would make the reunion fantasy a waste of time for us.
There are few characters left who Arizona is deeply connected to in Grey’s Anatomy, as most of them have also left, further limiting the need for her to come back. If she was going to make it back for anything, it would have been for Link and Jo’s wedding, as she had formed a bond with Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington). Maybe she could return if an intern was considering going into her field of medicine, but as they’ve just passed their first intern year, it doesn’t make sense for them to consider that at this point in Grey’s Anatomy.
