Justin Chambers to play Marlon Brando in first role since ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Justin Chambers has found his next role, and it’s pretty iconic.

The former Grey’s Anatomy star has inked a deal to play actor Marlon Brando in Paramount Plus’ upcoming series The Offer, marking Chambers’ first official role since unexpectedly leaving the medical drama in 2020.

The Offer is a limited series revolving around the making of the 1972 film The Godfather. The series revolves around producer Al Ruddy, who was originally going to be played by Armie Hammer. However, Hammer left the project in January following a social media scandal.

Miles Teller (Whiplash) replaced Hammer as the lead in May. Meanwhile, Dan Fogler (The Walking Dead) will play director Francis Ford Coppola, Juno Temple (Ted Lasso) plays Ruddy’s assistant Bettye McCartt, and Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey) plays studio head Robert Evans. Colin Hanks and Giovanni Ribisi round out the previously announced cast.

For those who need a refresher, Brando played Vito Corleone in the classic Godfather trilogy, and he went on to nab a Best Actor Oscar for his performance. Although Brando had already won an Oscar for On the Waterfront, he went on to star in a series of flops and no one wanted to hire him at the time. Coppola went to bat for him, and the gig was considered a major turning point in his career.

Many fans remember Brando in the role thanks to the cotton balls he stuffed in his cheeks or his famous line, “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” No word on whether Chambers will have to nail those iconic things, but given the show title it seems like a safe bet that he will.

Chambers was one of the last original cast members on Grey’s Anatomy when he left the show after 15 years in Season 16. His last on-screen appearance was in November 2019, when he returned home to help his mother with her mental illness. Fans weren’t aware he wasn’t returning until a couple of months later when the series announced his departure.

The actor returned one final time to voice the “Leave a Light On” episode in March 2020, when viewers learned that he had reconnected with his former love and mother of his children, Izzie (Katherine Heigl). Star and executive producer Debbie Williams directed the emotional installment.

“There’s no good time to say goodbye to a show and character that’s defined so much of my life for the past 15 years,” Chambers said in a statement at the time. “For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices. And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is that time.”

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