Ellen Pompeo is returning to television in a new capacity with the upcoming show Chicks.
Multiple outlets confirmed in June 2026 that Hulu ordered a pilot for the Chicks. The dramedy will star Pompeo. She will also serve as an executive producer on the series alongside collaborator Laura Holstein via Pompeo’s Calamity Jane production company. The Hulu show is based on an original idea from writer Katie Robbins.
Robbins reportedly was inspired to create the show after having a conversation with Pompeo on the set of Good American Family. The limited series, which premiered on Hulu in 2025, was Pompeo’s first major project after the actress reduced her role as Dr. Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy. Pompeo joined the medical drama when it premiered in 2005. She remained a full-time cast member up until season 19 which aired in 2022. (Pompeo, who also serves as an executive producer, has continued to make guest appearances on Grey’s Anatomy since then.)
According to Deadline, Robbins created the concept of Chicks specifically with Pompeo in mind.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about Pompeo’s involvement in Chicks:
What Is ‘Chicks’ About?
According to the family drama’s synopsis, Chicks will tell the story of two sisters as their lives change amid the rapid gentrification of neighborhoods in old Boston. (Pompeo grew up in Everett, Massachusetts which is north of Beantown.)
“It follows Chickie and Doreen, two estranged half-sisters who are both struggling to get by when their wise guy dad unexpectedly kicks the bucket,” the synopsis read. “Their only inheritance is a legacy of two-bit crime that inspires them to run increasingly audacious frauds. As their con grows, so does their odd-couple bond, as they each start to fill the father-shaped hole in the other’s heart.”
What Is Ellen Pompeo’s Role in ‘Chicks’?
Pompeo will play Chickie who is one of the leading sisters in the series. She is also an executive producer on the project.
Who Else Has Been Cast in ‘Chicks’?
Pompeo is the only confirmed name attached to the project. Details of additional cast members have yet to be revealed.
When Does Production for ‘Chicks’ Start?
Deadline reported in June 2026 that production for the pilot is expected to begin in New York City in September 2026.
Will ‘Chicks’ Interfere With Ellen Pompeo’s Role on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?
Since Hulu has only ordered a pilot for Chicks, it should not prevent Pompeo from appearing on Grey’s Anatomy as she currently has a recurring role. However, things could change if the streamer orders a full season for Chicks.
