Ellen Pompeo to star in new Hulu drama Not a Sound
Ellen Pompeo will star in Not a Sound, a medical mystery drama in development at Hulu from David E. Kelley Productions. The Grey's Anatomy lead plays disgraced ER nurse Amelia Winn, who loses her hearing in a hit-and-run and is pulled into a murder investigation that could expose the truth about her accident. The project reunites Pompeo with Kelley 21 years after Grey's Anatomy replaced his Boston Legal in ABC's Sunday 10 p.m. slot.
Key Takeaways
- Ellen Pompeo will lead Not a Sound at Hulu, playing hearing-impaired ER nurse Amelia Winn in a murder mystery adapted from Heather Gudenkauf's novel.
- David E. Kelley Productions is developing the series through 20th Television, with writers Matthew Tinker and Annakate Chappell and director Azazel Jacobs attached.
- Pompeo remains active on Grey's Anatomy as the show heads into its 23rd season while expanding her Hulu slate with Good American Family and pilot Chicks.
- The reunion marks a full-circle moment: Kelley and Pompeo's paths crossed when Grey's launched one week after Boston Legal wrapped in March 2005.
What Is Not a Sound About?
According to Deadline, Not a Sound follows Amelia Winn, a disgraced ER nurse who loses her hearing in a devastating hit-and-run accident. She and her fiercely loyal service dog discover the murdered body of a former colleague, launching a deadly mystery that could finally reveal the truth about the crash that changed her life.
The series is based on Heather Gudenkauf's novel of the same name. Unlike Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy, Pompeo's new role puts her in scrubs as a nurse—not a surgeon—navigating disability, professional disgrace, and a whodunit at the center of the story.
Who Is Making Not a Sound at Hulu?
Matthew Tinker, president of David E. Kelley Productions, co-wrote the project with Annakate Chappell; both previously worked on Kelley's Big Sky. Azazel Jacobs, whose 2024 Netflix film His Three Daughters earned Gotham and Independent Spirit screenplay honors, is set to direct.
Executive producers include Chappell, Jacobs, Kelley, Tinker, and Pompeo alongside Laura Holstein under her Calamity Jane banner. 20th Television is the studio—where Kelley was based for 22 years and where Pompeo holds an overall deal.
Where Does This Fit in Ellen Pompeo's TV Slate?
Pompeo continues to star in and executive produce Grey's Anatomy, which is headed into its 23rd season on ABC. She also executive produces spinoff Station 19 and the upcoming Grey's offshoot set in West Texas, slated for midseason 2027.
On Hulu, Pompeo recently secured two additional green lights: a second season of anthology series Good American Family, which she executive produces, and dramedy pilot Chicks, which she stars in and executive produces—both partnered with Katie Robbins. Despite speculation after she did not appear in the latest season 23 cast photo, multiple outlets report she is expected to remain involved with Grey's, having stepped back to a smaller on-screen role since 2022 to spend more time with her family.
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