Ellen Pompeo concerns the possibility of Grey's anatomy happening without her: 'We'll see

"I think this is great content for young people, and we're going to try to support it for young people -- not necessarily with me," said Ellen Pompeo.

Pompeo was asked by Entertainment Tonight about the possibility that the ABC medical drama could unfold without him, to which he mysteriously replied, "We'll see, we'll see."

Pompeo, 52, explains, "Trying to reinvent the show and constantly trying to reinvent the show is the challenge right now, and listen, the show appeals to many people, and young people love the show."

She continues, "It's inspired so many generations of healthcare professionals. So I think it's great content for young people, and we're going to try to support it for young people - not necessarily with me, but beyond me." But the possibility of a complete switch from Pompeo is a very different discussion. "We may or may not find someone," he teased.

Pompeo has played Dr. Meredith Gray since the series premiered in 2005. As Grey's Anatomy recently celebrated its 400th episode, she told PEOPLE how her role on the show changed her life.

"My life isn't on par with [Meredith's] because I'm not a doctor, but I'll tell you, I had three kids, and I got married, and I became a completely different person doing the show," she said.

"I managed to find my pace and strength," he continued. "There's something so satisfying about knowing where I started and what's my place in my head and where I was emotionally when I started and where I am now and everything I've learned and everything that taught me, what I've learned however, the Golden Globe nominee often spoke up about ending the series.

"I've been trying to priority on convincing everyone that it has to end," he told Insider in December 2021. "I feel so naive that I keep saying, 'But what's going to be the story, what's going to be?' shall we say?"

In January, Grey's Anatomy received an early update for Season 19. Pompeo will return to his starring role.