Grey’s Anatomy’s Alex Karev actor, Justin Chambers, addresses whether he’ll return to the show after four years. Chambers leftGrey’s Anatomyafter 16 seasonsof playing Alex Karev. In the series, Karev learned about the existence of his two children and decided to leave Grey Sloan and his wife Jo (Camilla Luddington) to reunite with his ex-wife Izzie (Katherine Heigl). His departure came as a shock to the show’s long-time fans and also received backlash.
Speaking toTVLinewhile promoting his new show,Accused,the actor shut down the possibility of returning to the franchise any time soonby saying,“That chapter is closed for now.“Though he is grateful for his time on the ABC drama, Chambers is content with seeking out other opportunities for the time being. Check out his comment below:

Thank you forever, Shonda Rhimes, but getting the opportunity to play characters like Marlon Brando in The Offer and Tyler in The Accused, both completely different from Alex, is why I’m excited to embrace new roles from talented writers and storytellers.
What His Comment Means For Alex’s Future
Alex Isn’t Returning Anytime Soon
Chambers' comments confirm that he has no plans to return totheGrey’s Anatomyfranchisefor now. However,he also doesn’t shut down the idea of it in the future.The actor is currently enjoying where his career takes him afterGrey’s Anatomy. After spending almost two decades playing the same character, the idea of returning to the same role doesn’t really appeal to Chambers.
Grey’s Anatomy: Izzie & Alex’s Relationship Timeline, Explained
Of the many romances on the long-running drama Grey’s Anatomy, Izzie and Alex have a sweet, special, and complicated relationship.
Leaving the show was the actor’s idea in the first place, who voiced a similar sentiment when he exited the series.Grey’s Anatomyhad to write Alex outbecauseChambers wanted to diversify his career choicesand pursue other acting roles while spending more time with his family. Four years and a half later, it seems that his statement still stands. It proves that ultimately, his departure worked out for the best, even despite the backlash it earned for how it played out onscreen. For now, Alex Karev won’t return to the show, but the door is still open.

Our Take On Alex’s Potential Grey’s Anatomy Return
His Return Might Make Things Worse
It’s no secret thatAlex Karev has one ofGrey’s Anatomy’s worst exits. The character didn’t even share a proper goodbye with everyone, but instead left a letter to those he had viewed as family.Alex’s exit is both sudden and heartbreaking, not to mention how it left Jo and Meredith in an emotionally raw place.Choosing Izzie over his current wife, life, and friends also sounds out-of-character, but it begs the question of whether him returning would actually fix that.
His departure was hard enough in the first place forGrey’s Anatomyfans. Bringing him back would be an awful move, even for an original character like Alex. Meredith would be furious with him, and Jo would be confused. WhileGrey’s Anatomyis now in season 21, Alex’s return wouldn’t be welcomed at Grey Sloan withAlex having no place in the series, given that he has already made the choice to be with Izzie.Even if Alex returned, he wouldn’t truly be back. His exit is terrible enough, and leaving it as is might not be the worst.

Grey’s Anatomy
Cast
Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama series revolving around surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show features the professional and personal lives of these medical professionals, led initially by Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series highlights the complexities of medical cases while delving into the interpersonal relationships among the hospital staff.