THE stars of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” have found themselves in a new position.

    Leading lady Ellen Pompeo (Meredith) as well as original co-stars Chandra Wilson (Bailey), James Pickens Jr. (Richard) and Justin Chambers (Alex) in addition to Sara Ramirez (Callie) and Kevin McKidd (Owen) are all negotiating new contracts.

    The stars find themselves in a new position that they haven’t been in since before the Paul Lee era at ABC: The network, under new entertainment group president Channing Dungey, handed out an early renewal in March for the Shondaland medical drama.

    Sources said Pompeo is expected to return to the Shonda Rhimes/Betsy Beers drama, though negotiations are still ongoing for her new deal. (Her current pact expires at the end of season 12.) The actress declined comment about her contract status.

    “I think for me creatively, the show has always been Ellen; that is the heart of the show. I’m not going to comment on whether or not the show would fold without her but that is where I am interested in writing,” Rhimes said in January.

    Pompeo currently ranks among the highest paid actresses on TV with her 2015 earnings — coming in at US$11.5 million, according to Forbes.

    (SD-Agencies)