Katherine Heigl is temporarily leaving Grey’s Anatomy. A rep for ABC confirms Heigl is taking a 5-episode hiatus to film the romantic comedy Life as We Know It.

“Katherine is taking time off to film a movie. The producers at Grey’s have accommodated past things like that before. It’s a cast of 13 and it is a true ensemble so the show is mindful [of other commitments],” the rep says.

Around the same time as Heigl’s departure, Ellen Pompeo is set to go on maternity leave. The rep tells People magazine that the overlap is “all being worked out.”

Meanwhile, ABC recently announced three new characters will be joining the cast. They will be played by Nora Zehetner, Robert Baker and Jesse Williams.

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