According to Variety, Golden Globe nominee Ellen Pompeo has officially signed on for the leading role in Hulu’s forthcoming untitled Orphan-inspired limited series, based on the real-life story of Ukrainian-born Natalia Grace and her adoptive parents. This marks Pompeo’s first major TV project outside of the long-running Grey’s Anatomy, where she has been playing the role of Meredith Gray for nearly two decades and eighteen seasons.
RELATED: The Veil: Elisabeth Moss to Lead Thriller Drama From Peaky Blinders Creator
It has also been confirmed that her role in the forthcoming nineteenth season of ABC medical drama will be scaled back. The outlet confirms that Pompeo will only be appearing in eight episodes but will still be narrating and executive producing the whole season.
The untitled Orphan miniseries will center around a Midwestern couple who adopts what they believe is an 8-year-old girl with a rare form of dwarfism. “As they begin to raise her alongside their three biological children, they slowly start to believe she may not be who she says she is,” reads the synopsis. “They start questioning her story, leading them to be confronted with hard questions of their own about the lengths they’re willing to go to defend themselves, falling into a battle that’s fought in the tabloids, the courtroom, and ultimately their marriage.”
RELATED: The Patient Trailer: Steve Carell Gets Kidnapped in FX’s Thriller Series
The project will be written and executive produced by Katie Robbins, with Erin Levy serving as an executive producer and showrunner. Pompeo and Laura Holstein will be executive producing through their Calamity Jane banner along with Mike Epps, Dan Spilo, Niles Kirchner, and Andrew Stearn. It is a production by ABC Signature.
