Grey’s Anatomy is known for losing many of its core characters through the years, but Sarah Drew’s April Kepner’s unexpected departure from the show in season 14 shocked many, although there could be circumstances for which Kepner’s return would make sense. While many of Grey’s Anatomy’s stars left the show of their own volition, that wasn’t the case for Drew. She was asked to leave Grey’s Anatomy due to creative reasons at the end of season 14, according to a statement by showrunner Krista Vernoff.
Before Jesse Williams’ Jackson Avery’s departure from the show in Grey’s Anatomy season 17 episode 14, in which Drew took part, April Kepner was last seen in season 14 episode 24, “All of Me.” The episode tidily concluded all the storylines April was involved in, giving her a job away from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital with which she could have helped rural communities while simultaneously giving April a type of happily ever after, as she ended up unexpectedly marrying paramedic Matthew (Justin Bruening). The hasty conclusion to April’s story in Grey’s Anatomy was then backtracked with William’s last episode on Grey’s Anatomy in season 17, “Look Up Child,” when April told Jackson that she and Matthew had broken up, as they were ignoring all the issues they had to live in a fantasy they created.
Grey’s Anatomy season 18 saw many characters return from the show’s previous seasons, including Tom Koracick (Greg Germann), who left in season 17 to follow Jackson and work closely with the Avery Foundation. While Germann’s Koracick’s reappearance in season 18 episode 5 was brief and unrelated to the foundation’s work, it made a potential return for April possible, and in that case, it could be related to the Avery Foundation. Koracick will also be back in season 18 episode 11 for Meredith’s innovative surgery on Dr. David Hamilton (Peter Gallagher), showing that despite his departure from Grey’s Anatomy in season 17, he was still involved with the events at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, and April could be too, as she was also employed by the Avery Foundation.
While April’s work with the Avery Foundation would be a good excuse for her to be back to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in a professional capacity, that wouldn’t be the reason why she should. Drew’s departure from Grey’s Anatomy, along with that of Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw), was as unexpected as it was rushed. Grey’s Anatomy might have gotten characters’ exits right in season 17, and April’s brief return to favor Jackson’s leaving Grey Sloan Memorial story-wise proved it, but it didn’t change the fact Drew’s departure from the show was not treated with the same attention towards April. Even without Jackson or Arizona’s returns, April briefly returning could mean steps forward for Grey Sloan Memorial, especially regarding how it served marginalized communities. Grey’s Anatomy indeed mentioned multiple times how Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital had not provided the right resources for people who could not afford their care, and it explored the issue with the hospital’s pro-bono surgeries and even with Meredith’s decision to commit insurance fraud to make sure a little girl got the life-saving surgery she deserved in season 15.
Grey’s Anatomy season 18 saw many characters return, but it never hinted at April returning. However, Williams and Drew repeatedly said they would be up to reprise their roles as Jackson and April if that gave their characters’ a satisfying ending, going as far as proposing a Grey’s Anatomy spinoff of Jackson and April’s life in Boston (via Insider). Whether or not a Japril Grey’s Anatomy spinoff were to happen, April Kepner could still return to Grey Sloan Memorial, as her input to Grey’s Anatomy season 17 showed April still made the show better.