We all know Shonda Rhimes for building TV worlds that pull us in and refuse to let go — from the endless drama of Grey’s Anatomy to the political chess game that was Scandal to the Regency-era heat of Bridgerton. But what about the shows that didn’t make it past the idea stage?
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rhimes opened up about a few spinoffs that were this close to becoming reality. And honestly? Some of these could’ve eaten.
“There were a bunch,” Rhimes said, reflecting on ideas from her Grey’s universe. “We could’ve done Chicago Anatomy, Boston Anatomy… But it didn’t appeal to me to rebuild the same world again and again.”
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One idea that had potential? A full-on Shepherd family series. Yep — a show about Amelia Shepherd (played by Caterina Scorsone) and her sisters, all doctors, all full of drama.
“It could’ve been The Shepherd Sisters,” she said. “That would’ve been very interesting.” (And you just know it would’ve had a fire theme song.)
She also kicked around ideas for expanding the Scandal universe — including one that would’ve centered on the shadowy, high-stakes world of B613. If you remember that covert organization, then you know how wild a spinoff could’ve been.
“There was a bunch,” Rhimes said. “But we really tried to look for shows that could stand on their own two feet, that were their own thing.”
It’s not hard to imagine what a darker, espionage-heavy Scandal offshoot might’ve looked like. With characters operating in secrecy, cover-ups, and blackmail galore, the potential for drama was sky-high. But even with all that material on the table, Rhimes stuck to her gut — and her gold standard: only move forward if the story can breathe on its own.
But for Rhimes, it’s not just about pulling a character and dropping them into a new zip code. “If you spin off a character, what people want is more of the same,” she explained. “They think, ‘Oh, I’m going to get another show where Addison’s the mistress.’ You want more of what worked — and building something brand new is hard.”
That’s why she pivoted when it came to the Bridgerton universe. Instead of a traditional spinoff, she gave us Queen Charlotte — a prequel that felt familiar but fresh, letting her stretch creatively without being boxed in by what came before.
And let’s talk crossovers. Rhimes knows fans love ‘em — but behind the scenes? It’s a logistical high-wire act.
“We did some bonkers crossovers,” she said, laughing. From Private Practice to Station 19 to the wild ride that was How to Get Away with Murder x Scandal, the mash-ups were always done with intention.
She especially loved the Scandal/HTGAWM team-up. “That was a blast,” she said. “There were HTGAWM writers who really wanted to write for Kerry [Washington], and Scandal folks who were excited to write for Viola [Davis].” Each episode was shot on separate stages, with separate crews — one on the HTGAWM lot, the other on the Scandal set. “It was fascinating to watch our number ones cross over and see how the different worlds worked.”
So while The Shepherd Sisters and that B613 deep-dive may never hit our screens, one thing’s clear: Rhimes isn’t short on ideas. She just knows when to let one simmer — and when to let it go.
And knowing Shonda? There’s always something new cooking in Shondaland.