Jesse Williams Breaks the Internet: New Role, Viral Video & Fans’ Reactions Revealed

From “Grey’s Anatomy” Heart-throb to Italian Riviera Leading Man: Jesse Williams’ Next Act Los Angeles — Jesse Williams is once again setting social media ablaze, but this time it isn’t because of a surprise cameo at Grey Sloan Memorial. The 44-year-old actor is headlining Paramount+ Europe’s glossy new thriller “Hotel Costiera,” a sun-drenched limited series filmed on Italy’s Amalfi Coast and already tipped as the fall’s must-stream obsession. A 13-Pound Transformation To embody former Marine-turned-concierge Luca Valenti, Williams shed 13 lbs in just six weeks, swapping morning protein shakes for “pasta, bread and 10-mile coastline hikes,” he revealed in a behind-the-scenes chat. “The carbs kept me energized for stunt days, the hiking carved everything up,” he joked, crediting the Mediterranean diet for his lean new look. Fluent Lines, Italian Vibes Williams also spent three months mastering conversational Italian so he could improvise on set without a dialect coach. “It was a labor of love—and a lot of late-night Duolingo,” he laughed, noting that bilingual banter authentically grounds his ex-pat character in the story’s web of political intrigue. Borrowing Lessons From Dr. Avery Fans will spot faint echoes of Dr. Jackson Avery in Luca’s surgical precision—by design. Williams told Collider he wove his decade of medical-drama instincts into Luca’s meticulous crime-scene clean-ups, even choosing the needle-drop that introduces him in episode one. Will He Return to Grey’s? Naturally the question follows: could Williams ever scrub back in at Grey Sloan? “Never say never,” he teased in a recent Parade interview, adding that directing an upcoming mid-season episode is “on the table”. Insiders say ABC would welcome a guest arc timed to “Hotel Costiera’s” U.S. launch early next year. Brotherhood Beyond the OR Off-screen, Williams’ Grey’s bond with Eric “McSteamy” Dane remains strong. Cameras caught the duo sharing a laugh on the Emmys red carpet, where Williams presented despite Dane’s flu-related absence. “That’s my brother—we FaceTimed during rehearsals,” he told E! News, brushing off rumors of any rift. Why the Buzz Matters “Hotel Costiera” is Williams’ first regular TV role since his Emmy-nominated Broadway run in “Take Me Out,” and industry analysts predict the show could position him as Hollywood’s go-to leading man for prestige international dramas. Pair that with his viral physical transformation and chatter about a Grey’s return, and it’s clear why search traffic for “Jesse Williams” has spiked 300 percent this week alone. What’s Next Paramount+ drops the six-episode series globally on October 17, with a red-carpet premiere in Rome. Williams, meanwhile, plans a short directing stint before diving into a hush-hush feature film rumored to reunite him with Shonda Rhimes. For fans craving both nostalgia and novelty, Jesse Williams’ Italian era might just be his most compelling storyline yet.