"Grey's Anatomy" star has joined the cast. So ... does that mean we should prepare our goodbyes?

According to Deadline, Jerrika Hinton (Dr. Stephanie Edwards on "Grey's") has been cast in Ball's HBO drama about the multi-racial Bishop family, made up of a philosophy professor father (not yet cast), his lawyer wife (Holly Hunter), their three adopted children from Somalia (Hinton), Vietnam (Raymond Lee), and Colombia (Daneil Zovatto), and their one biological child (Sosie Bacon).

Hinton's character, Ashley, is the owner of a retail fashion website; a wife; and mother of a 4-year-old. She was born in America to Somalian refugees, and adopted when her mother died and her father was deported. As Deadline added, "Ashley now finds herself feeling part of neither the white or the black experience, and her perfect life is beginning to fray."

The site added that Hinton's casting is said to be in a guest-starring capacity for now, since she's still a series regular on "Grey's Anatomy." Hinton has played Stephanie since joining the ABC series in a recurring role in 2012's Season 9. She has been a series regular in the main cast since Season 10. "Grey's Anatomy" Season 13 returns from winter hiatus on Jan. 19.

We'll have to stay tuned on if/how Hinton balances both shows. Alan Ball's latest HBO series (after "Six Feet Under" and "True Blood") does not have a title yet, or a full cast, and Deadline did not share any news on a projected premiere date. So there's a decent chance Hinton wouldn't even shoot anything for the new show until after "Grey's" Season 13 was finished anyway.

In the meantime, check out the new promo and photos for "Grey's" 2017 midseason return.

[via: TVLine]

Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.