Karla Souza Heads to West Texas for Grey's Anatomy Spinoff

ABC has locked in its lead for the Texas-based Grey's Anatomy spinoff, selecting Karla Souza to star in the new series. The casting announcement marks the latest development for a project that has already shifted its production timeline.

Souza will portray Carolina “Lina” Hall, a cynical physician who runs a medical center in a small West Texas town. The character is described as haunted, overseeing a facility that serves as the last chance for care before miles of open space. This role brings Souza back to the ABC network and Shondaland production company, where she previously starred in How to Get Away With Murder.

The series is now slated to start filming in early 2027. It will debut in the 2027-2028 television lineup, a change from the network's initial goal to have the show on the air this season. ABC ordered the currently untitled series to series status in May of this year.

Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey's Anatomy, and current showrunner Meg Maranis are co-creating the new show. Maranis, a Texas native, co-wrote the first episode alongside Rhimes. Both women will serve as executive producers along with Shondaland's Betsy Beers and Grey's star Ellen Pompeo.

Marinis told The Hollywood Reporter in October that the show digs into the true stories of rural West Texas communities. She noted that the setting offers narratives distinct from the original series, even though the shows are related. The logline for the new series emphasizes the isolation of the medical center in the remote region.

Souza's recent credits include the Prime Video series 56 Days and Dive, for which she won an International Emmy Award. She also appeared in the ABC comedy Home Economics. Her representation includes Gersh, Untitled, and Gang Tyre.