Shonda Rhimes: Katherine Heigl’s Izzie Won’t Have a Brain Tumor

[Brian Damage]

There will be plenty of heart-skipping developments come fall for Grey’s Anatomy, but a brain tumor for Katherine Heigl’s character Izzie Stevens won’t be one of them.

GA executive producer Shonda Rhimes says that rumors of a medical crisis for Izzie are not true–but viewers can expect some “interesting sparks” between Alex and Izzie following their season finale hookup, reports E! online.

The other characters will also have plenty of drama to deal with outside of the OR. Though GA resident couple MerDer finally reunited last season, don’t expect the tumultuous Seattle Grace doctors to settle down. Says Rhimes, “It’s really exciting to see what’s going to come next and how [Meredith's] going to deal with living with a boy, and all the things a man like Derek, who has been married and is a grown-up, might expect.”

Another romance to keep an eye on: Callie and Erica, who will continue to explore their relationship. “They are definitely on a journey, and it’s going to be a really interesting one…also both actresses are so game; they’re so willing to do something,” says Rhimes.

Fans can also expect to see some new faces at Seattle Grace. Scottish actor Kevin McKidd (of Journeyman) will join the cast as a military doctor who comes to the hospital on leave, and will possibly be a love interest for Sandra Oh’s Cristina, who spent most of last season in a funk following fiancé Preston Burke’s departure. Says Rhimes, “I think Cristina might find him fairly interesting.” –Shreya Baxi

http://tvwatch.people.com/2008/08/01...a-brain-tumor/