Patrick Dempsey Stars as a Double-Life Hitman in Fox’s New Thriller ‘Memory of a Killer’

The Promo: A Gripping First Look

Fox unveiled the first official promotional footage for Memory of a Killer during Game 1 of the 2025 World Series, timing the reveal to maximize audience reach during one of television’s most-watched sporting events. The 60-second teaser, accompanied by The Who’s classic “Behind Blue Eyes,” features no dialogue but delivers a visceral punch through action-packed sequences that immediately establish the show’s tone and stakes.

In the promo, Patrick Dempsey is shown in multiple compelling scenarios: positioned at a window with a rifle ready to take aim at a target, striking someone violently with a baseball bat, and sharing an intimate moment embracing what appears to be his daughter. These juxtaposed images—the cold efficiency of an assassin contrasted with the warmth of familial connection—encapsulate the central tension defining Angelo Ledda’s existence.

The strategic use of The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes” proves particularly effective, as the song’s introspective lyrics about hidden darkness complement the visual narrative. Dempsey’s piercing blue eyes, accentuated in close-up shots, become a focal point emphasizing the character’s emotional complexity and internal struggle. The promo successfully conveys psychological depth, action intensity, and emotional resonance without uttering a single line of dialogue.

Fox positioned this promotion strategically to reach broad audiences watching the World Series, signaling the network’s confidence in the project’s commercial viability and critical potential. The timing also allows months for audience anticipation to build before the January 2026 premiere.

Patrick Dempsey’s Triumphant Return to Network Television

Patrick Dempsey’s casting as Angelo Ledda marks his first major network television role in a decade, signifying a significant milestone in his career. The actor last appeared on network television in Grey’s Anatomy, where he played the beloved Dr. Derek Shepherd—affectionately nicknamed “McDreamy” by fans—for eleven seasons before his surprise departure in 2015 during the show’s eleventh season. That surprise exit shocked audiences and remains one of television’s most memorable departures, creating conversation that persists more than a decade later.

During his decade away from network television, Dempsey remained actively employed, appearing in prestige films including Scream 3, Bridget Jones’s Baby, and Ferrari. He also took on streaming roles, most notably appearing in Showtime’s Dexter: Original Sin, where he played Captain Maria LaGuerta’s superior officer. His work in the Italian series Devils, which aired on The CW, demonstrated his willingness to explore complex, morally ambiguous characters outside of traditional heroic archetypes.

This return to network television specifically represents a deliberate creative choice, suggesting Dempsey’s interest in anchoring major broadcast drama productions. Memory of a Killer grants him the opportunity to showcase dramatic range beyond the procedural medical drama format that defined much of his Grey’s Anatomy tenure, positioning him in morally complicated territory that demands sophisticated character work.

Michael Thorn, President of FOX Television Network, described Dempsey’s involvement enthusiastically: “In the spirit of 24 and House, Memory of a Killer is anchored by a bold lead with all the makings of another undeniable signature Fox character. In addition to the visceral qualities of the script, it’s one of the most emotionally charged stories I’ve seen in a long time.”

Angelo Ledda: The Character and Complex Plot

Angelo Ledda, portrayed by Dempsey, represents one of television’s most intricately constructed antiheroes. The character maintains two starkly contrasting identities: by day, he is a seemingly ordinary photocopier salesman and devoted father in sleepy Cooperstown, New York; by night, he operates as a highly skilled contract killer operating from New York City. For years, Angelo has successfully compartmentalized these dual existences, maintaining a figurative brick wall separating his violent professional life from his domestic responsibilities.

This carefully maintained equilibrium shatters catastrophically when Angelo receives a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease—the same degenerative condition that claimed his older brother’s life. The prognosis transforms Angelo’s world, as Alzheimer’s represents an adversary he cannot outrun or overcome through the resourcefulness and tactical brilliance that have defined his career. With his memory failing, Angelo recognizes that his ability to maintain operational security, remember targets, and preserve crucial details about his past hits becomes increasingly compromised.

The plot intensifies dramatically when Angelo discovers evidence suggesting that his wife’s recent death—previously attributed to an accident—may have been deliberate murder. Simultaneously, someone from his mysterious past emerges to target his pregnant daughter, Maria, making abundantly clear that the brick wall separating his two worlds has been irreparably breached. Now forced to hunt down whoever threatens his family, Angelo must search through decades of past assignments for clues while simultaneously managing his deteriorating cognitive function.

The series’ central paradox presents Angelo as “a man losing his memory but gaining a conscience.” He must hunt his mortal enemy, continue carrying out professional assignments to maintain his cover, manage his Alzheimer’s diagnosis without revealing it to colleagues, and still find time to cook dinner for his daughter—all while racing against his own deteriorating mind.

The Talented Ensemble Cast

Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) portrays Dutch, Angelo’s oldest friend and an accomplished chef whose upscale restaurant serves as a front for criminal enterprise. Imperioli’s Emmy Award-winning pedigree brings gravitas to this pivotal supporting role, establishing the complicated friendship that anchors Angelo’s emotional life.

Odeya Rush plays Maria, Angelo’s pregnant daughter who becomes the focal point of his protective instincts. Rush’s previous work in Pantheon demonstrates her ability to portray complex young women navigating difficult circumstances, positioning her perfectly for portraying a daughter caught between her father’s two worlds.

Richard Harmon (The 100) takes on the role of Joe, a fellow hitman who functions as a colleague within Angelo’s criminal underworld. Harmon’s experience in ensemble casts where morality remains ambiguous prepares him well for this complicated character dynamic.

Daniel David Stewart (Reacher) portrays Jeff, Maria’s husband and an inventor struggling with self-confidence issues. Stewart’s character functions as the son-in-law caught in the collision between Angelo’s two worlds, forced to reckon with his father-in-law’s true identity.

Peter Gadiot (Yellowjackets) plays Dave, a local police detective in Hudson Springs who harbors complicated feelings for Maria. Dave previously investigated the drunk-driving accident that killed Angelo’s wife five years earlier, positioning him as a crucial character whose investigation into Angelo’s past may expose his secret identity.

Gina Torres (9-1-1: Lone Star) takes on the role of Special Agent Linda Grant, bringing additional law enforcement perspective to the series’ investigative elements.

Production Pedigree and Source Material

Memory of a Killer draws inspiration from the acclaimed 2003 Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer (translated as The Alzheimer’s Case or La Memoire Du Tueur), which garnered significant recognition in Belgium and broader European cinema circles. The Belgian original provided such compelling source material that it was subsequently remade as the American film Memory in 2022, starring Liam Neeson in a version that saw theatrical release.

The television adaptation, penned by writers Ed Whitmore and Tracey Malone, takes the core premise and expands it across a full series arc, allowing for deeper character development and exploration of Angelo’s dual-life compartmentalization beyond what feature film constraints would permit. This serialized format enables nuanced exploration of how Alzheimer’s progressively erodes not just memory but identity itself.

The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television and Fox Entertainment, bringing substantial production resources and distribution infrastructure to the project. Executive producers include Cathy Schulman (Tár), whose film production credentials add prestige legitimacy to the endeavor. Director Martin Campbell, known for launching the James Bond franchise revival with Casino Royale, serves as executive producer, lending cinematic sophistication to the television narrative.

Fox has positioned Memory of a Killer as a midseason offering for the 2025-2026 television season, strategically scheduling the January 2026 premiere to capitalize on post-holiday viewership and establish it as a signature Fox drama anchoring the network’s prestige television portfolio.