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Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 is giving fans exactly what they want with April Kepner’s (Sarah Drew) return. But will the former cast member come back for another cameo after episode 14? Here’s what Drew revealed about her future on Grey’s Anatomy — and the actor’s comments are everything.

What happened to April Kepner on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?

Sarah Drew as April Kepner smiles in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 17 Episode 14, ‘Look Up Child’
Sarah Drew as April Kepner in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 17 | Richard Cartwright via Getty Images

April left Grey’s Anatomy when the character quit Grey Sloan Memorial in season 14. The trauma surgeon wanted to provide healthcare to homeless communities in Seattle. Meanwhile, April found her happily ever after with Matthew Taylor (Justin Bruening). 

Following her whirlwind romance with Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams), April reconnected with her ex, Matthew. Then in the Grey’s Anatomy Season 14 finale, April and Matthew tied the knot. Now, April is still married to Matthew and co-parents her daughter, Harriet Kepner-Avery, with Jackson.

Why Sarah Drew left ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in August 2018, Drew revealed why she was let go from Grey’s Anatomy. At the time, the actor said:

I was told that the show had too many characters and that they needed to downsize because they couldn’t service all of the characters effectively. They didn’t want any of us to be left in the background and not getting much of a story. Because there were so many series regulars, they needed to downsize and to find some characters that they felt like they could tie up their stories well. [Showrunner] Krista Vernoff said that she felt like April had been through so much and had come out the other side and that she didn’t know what she could put her through again.

How long will Sarah Drew be back as April Kepner on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?

Now, Drew will return as April in Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 Episode 14, which will be released on May 6. And of course, many fans are excited to watch Drew’s new cameo. Meanwhile, Drew teased what to expect in an interview with E! News. 

“You will see a lot of April and Jackson onscreen together,” Drew said. “It is very much Jackson’s story. … The content of what he comes to talk to April about is really the meat of the episode. So I’m very excited. I think it’s going to be really beautiful.”

That said, it seems Drew will only be back for one episode of Grey’s Anatomy. 

“It’s just this one episode,” Drew told Entertainment Tonight ahead of the new Grey’s Anatomy episode on May 6.

Sarah Drew on April Kepner’s return after ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 17

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While Drew will only appear as April in one episode of Grey’s Anatomy Season 17, it seems she’s open to another return. 

“It would be lovely to come back, from my perspective,” Drew said in another interview with Entertainment Tonight. “I think the door was always open for April to appear in more episodes because she’s still in Seattle co-parenting with Jackson. So it’s just a matter of what works for the story.”

Then when speaking with the publication on May 6, Drew pointed out that “anyone can come back” on Grey’s Anatomy, even after the character is dead. So there’s hope for April’s future. The actor also revealed what the writers told her about the end of the Shondland series. 

Drew said, “When the writers called me to pitch the idea, I asked them, ‘Is this the last season?’ And they were like, ‘We don’t know, but we’re gonna give it all we got.’”

Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 airs Thursday nights on ABC.

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