Grey’s Anatomy: Anthony Hill Recalls Chaotic Time He Filmed For Two-Weeks Straight – Looper

Kelly McCreary’s maternity leave postponed a major plotline involving Anthony Hill’s character: the introduction of his younger, seedier brother, Wendell Ndugu (Rome Flynn). While this “Grey’s Anatomy” addition could have happened without her, showrunners wanted Maggie Pierce to officially meet her corrupt brother-in-law, who’s trying to sell faulty medical devices at the hospital.

According to Hill, this end-of-season storyline was originally set to take place toward the beginning of Season 18. But unlike the Rashida Flowers episode, which had to be completed sans-McCreary due to an impending air date, “Grey’s Anatomy” producers decided this one could — and should — wait for her return. Hill told Popternative, “They wanted her to be a part of this brother world that they were about to create… They had to rewrite, pivot, and we didn’t end up seeing my little brother until later in the season.”

McCreary returned in time to shoot the mid-season finale, and her transition back to work was a smooth one. She told People, “It’s such a parent-friendly and pregnant person-friendly environment.” However, the actress recently announced that she is leaving “Grey’s Anatomy,” so it’s unclear what this means for her on-screen husband.