‘The Resident’: Is Bruce Greenwood Leaving? EP Reveals What’s in Store for Dr. Bell After His Shocking Medical Diagnosis
Will Dr. Bell be the next person to say goodbye to Chastain Park Memorial Hospital? Many fans of The Resident have wondered if Bruce Greenwood plans on leaving the FOX medical drama after his character received a shocking medical diagnosis in season 5. The Resident’s executive producer, Andrew Chapman, addressed this concern in a recent interview and teased where Dr. Bell’s journey is headed.
[Spoiler alert: The following story contains spoilers for The Resident Season 5 Episode 11, “Her Heart.”]
Dr. Bell’s diagnosis was revealed in ‘The Resident’ Season 5’s mid-season premiere
Earlier in season 5, Dr. Bell began experiencing hand tremors and vertigo, prompting Conrad Hawkins (Matt Czuchry) to run some tests. Those test results came back in the fall finale, but fans had to wait until the mid-season premiere to hear the official diagnosis.
Although many viewers expected Dr. Bell’s illness to be serious, few might have guessed what Conrad would reveal in season 5 episode 11, “Her Heart.” Bell is experiencing the early stages of multiple sclerosis. For those who don’t know, multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease that causes the immune system to attack the brain and spinal cord.
After sharing his diagnosis with Kit Voss (Jane Leeves) and Jake Wong (Conrad Ricamora), Bell decided he wanted to leave Chastain and end his career. He also ended his relationship with Kit, explaining that he didn’t want to burden her as a caretaker. However, Kit and Jake talked Bell down a bit, assuring that they would all face his diagnosis together.
‘The Resident’ EP Andrew Chapman responded to fan concerns about Bruce Greenwood leaving
So, does this mean Bruce Greenwood is leaving The Resident? According to Chapman, fans have nothing to worry about there — he told TVLIne that Greenwood is “absolutely” staying on board. He revealed what future episodes will hold for Bell as he comes to terms with his illness. Chapman said the former Chief of Surgery will have a “crisis moment” as he considers his career and how far he’s come in life.
“You’ll see, as we move forward, that he struggles to decide whether it’s overwhelming. Here’s the thrust of what we wanted: for him to have this crisis moment where it’s like, ‘Can I have this disease and still be the doctor I’ve always been? What do I become? How do I move forward in the world?'” the EP said.
And as for Kit and Bell’s relationship, fans won’t have to worry about that, either. Chapman assured that the couple is solid as a rock.
“Jane Leeves and Bruce Greenwood have such a wonderful affinity, in real life and on-screen. … And they just adore each other. They’re both perfectly happily married, and loving toward their own real-life spouses, but on set, they’re this wonderful, fun, teasing, adoring couple, and it just shows,” he continued. “Our audience loves them. It’s such a breath of fresh air to have this older, powerful couple that’s in love and always has each other’s backs. It’s charming.”
‘The Resident’ has seen a few cast exits in recent seasons
The Resident has seen quite a few cast changes in recent seasons. It all started in season 4 when Shanunette Renée Wilson decided to leave the series, which sent her character, Dr. Mina Okafor, back home to Nigeria. Then, just before season 5, Emily VanCamp announced her own departure from the medical drama.
Viewers also haven’t seen much of Morris Chesnut, who plays Barrett Cain, this season. Ahead of season 5, the actor was cast in Our Kind of People, which caused scheduling conflicts for The Resident. However, co-showrunner Peter Elkoff told TVLine that Chesnut would still appear in season 5 in some capacity.
The Resident airs on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
