Calling all Grey's Anatomy fans, especially those who have watched the beloved series from the very beginning. An original cast member who was a key part of the show’s early success is making his highly anticipated return to broadcast television. Grey's Anatomy fans know him as Derek Shepherd, aka McDreamy, the heartthrob neurosurgeon who stole our hearts. Now, Patrick Dempsey is stepping back into the spotlight with a thrilling new role in an upcoming Fox series titled Memory of a Killer. The TV network has committed to a full season of the thriller right away, showing strong confidence in the project.
Dempsey hasn't starred in a broadcast show since he reprised his role as Derek in Grey’s Anatomy season 17, where he appeared in a few episodes. Since then, he's appeared in the horror film Thanksgiving and several shows like Devils and Dexter: Original Sin. This new Fox series comes from writers Ed Whitmore and Tracey Malone, with Warner Bros. Television and Fox Entertainment signed on to produce. In addition, Whitmore and Malone also executive produce along with Cathy Schulman, Arthur Sarkissian, Martin Campbell, and Peter Bouckaert.
Memory of a Killer is based on the Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer or La Mémoire du Tueur, which was later remade into Campbell's 2022 action thriller Memory starring Liam Neeson. Dempsey will star in the lead role of Angelo Ledda, a man living a double life as a feared New York City hitman and a photocopier salesman and father in upstate Cooperstown. When he’s diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, a disease that has already claimed his brother, his carefully compartmentalized world begins to unravel. As he uncovers dark secrets surrounding his wife’s mysterious death and fights to protect his pregnant daughter from a looming threat, Angelo finds himself forced to confront his violent past.
Besides Dempsey, no other actors have been attached to this project so far, nor do we have any production details just yet. However, now that the series has been ordered and set its lead, we should be hearing more about casting and production updates in the near future. More details are expected to surface as the series moves forward in its development. But for now, this is all that is known.
If you haven't already, we highly recommend checking out Dexter: Original Sin on Paramount+. Dempsey plays the role of Aaron Spencer, the captain of the homicide division at the Miami Metro Police Department. All 10 episodes of the first season are available to stream right now on the streaming platform. A second season was confirmed by Paramount+ in April 2025.