‘Memory of a Killer’: Patrick Dempsey to Lead New ’24’ Meets ‘House’ FOX Series!!

Patrick Dempsey is headed back to network television in a major way. Fox has officially ordered the drama series Memory of a Killer for the 2025–2026 season, with Dempsey set to take on the complex lead role. The announcement came Monday ahead of the network’s upfront presentation in New York, marking a high-profile return to broadcast for the actor best known as McDreamy on Grey’s Anatomy. Although, it must be said, this does not sound very McDreamy at all.

“Memory of a Killer is a propulsive series with a noisy, unrelenting character hook that immediately grabbed our attention,” said Michael Thorn, president of Fox Television Network. “In the spirit of 24 and House, we’re introducing a daring new signature Fox lead, a complicated antihero facing unimaginable danger.”

Memory of a Killer will be Dempsey’s first broadcast lead role since his long run on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, where he played Dr. Derek Shepherd for 11 seasons. In recent years, he’s appeared in projects like Devils, Ferrari, and Dexter: Original Sin. His return to primetime network drama brings with it serious star power — and no shortage of buzz.

What is ‘Memory of a Killer’ About?

Inspired by the 2003 Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer (La Mémoire du Tueur), Memory of a Killer follows a professional hitman who begins to experience early-onset Alzheimer’s — a devastating diagnosis that upends his life in the most dangerous possible profession. Fox describes the show as a “dramatic thriller” with a gripping character hook and a twisty narrative full of big time tension.

The series is developed by Ed Whitmore and Tracey Malone, with both serving as executive producers alongside Cathy Schulman (Welle Entertainment), Arthur Sarkissian, Martin Campbell, and Peter Bouckaert (Eyeworks). It will be produced by Warner Bros. Television and Fox Entertainment.

This isn’t the first time the source material has been adapted: the Belgian film was previously reimagined as the 2022 thriller Memory, which starred Liam Neeson and was directed by Martin Campbell, who’s also attached to this new series. Memory of a Killer joins a growing roster of Fox dramas based on international hits. The network is also developing Best Medicine, starring Josh Charles, based on the long-running British series Doc Martin. In addition, it’s moving forward with the recently announced event series The Faithful.