‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Will Meredith Grey End Up With Andrew DeLuca or Cormac Hayes?

Grey’s Anatomy Season 16 introduced a new love triangle between Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Andrew DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti), and Cormac Hayes (Richard Flood) — aka McWidow. The Shondaland series has been building Meredith and DeLuca’s relationship for some time. However, McWidow — who was a gift from Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) — proved to be on the general surgeon’s level. So will Meredith end up with DeLuca or Hayes on Grey’s Anatomy? Showrunner Krista Vernoff revealed there’s hope for both relationships as we patiently wait for season 17.

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ showrunner explains Meredith Grey’s love triangle with Andrew DeLuca and Cormac Hayes

In Grey’s Anatomy Season 16, Meredith and DeLuca broke up as the surgical resident’s mental health started to unravel. That said, Meredith made it clear she was still there for DeLuca, even admitting she loves him. So clearly, the relationship isn’t over yet.

Even so, viewers saw sparks between Meredith and McWidow. The pair have gone through similar life experiences. McWidow lost his wife and is currently raising two teenage boys. Meanwhile, we all know what happened between Meredith and Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey). 

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Vernoff opened up about the love triangle between Meredith, DeLuca, and McWidow. But it seems the showrunner didn’t even anticipate it to be one in the writers’ room. 

“There are so many pieces to making television: there’s the conversation in the writers’ room, then the script on the page,” Vernoff said. “It’s like what you think it will be vs. what’s on the page. And then there’s what the actors do with it. That story has emerged in a way where I never expected it to be a triangle but feels like it very much is one right now.”

Vernoff then shared what she thought would happen in Grey’s Anatomy Season 16. “DeLuca has been so heroic and so dynamic in his mental health storyline,” Vernoff said. “In a strange way, I expected that storyline would illuminate him as a love interest for Meredith and it ironically feels like it’s done the opposite. It’s been amazing to watch Giacomo resonate with that storyline.”

Krista Vernoff says there’s hope for Andrew DeLuca and Cormac Hayes when it comes to Meredith Grey

Meredith’s love triangle with DeLuca and McWidow wasn’t exactly what Vernoff expected in Grey’s Anatomy Season 16. However, the showrunner explained why that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“The story ended up better than what I expected it was going to be because now I don’t know who I’m rooting for Meredith to be with,” Vernoff told The Hollywood Reporter. “There’s a part of me that feels like DeLuca, if he gets the right kind of treatment, could be becoming a human being with life experience that helps him rise to Meredith’s level.”

She continued: “And yet there’s this man, who is co-signed by Cristina and we’ve seen the pain he’s survived and how, in so many ways, his life experience mirrors Meredith’s. Where this goes now is really anybody’s guess. I’m excited to see how it unfolds.”

Now will Meredith end up with DeLuca or McWidow? When speaking with Deadline, Vernoff teased there’s still “hope” for both relationships. However, it looks like we’ll have to wait until Grey’s Anatomy Season 17 airs to get answers.

“There is hope for Meredith and DeLuca, and I think that there is hope for Meredith and Hayes,” Vernoff said.  “I will be fascinated to see how that storytelling emerges in season 17 because this story played in a way that I didn’t picture.”

Read more: ‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Krista Vernoff Reveals Why Alex Karev Didn’t Die in Season 16