‘Grey’s Anatomy’ has finally moved on from Dr. Derek Shepherd’s death and has cast a replacement for McDreamy.
Martin Henderson has recently been announced to have signed on to the hit series’ twelfth season as the newest doctor at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
The actor has been cast for the 12th season of the hit show and is expected to play a surgeon. He has had experience in portraying a doctor on screen as he portrayed one in the 2011 ABC medical drama series ‘Off the Map’, which also starred Rachel Lefevre and Zach Gilford.
Henderson has also starred in the supernatural horror film ‘The Ring’ alongside Naomi Watts and in the action movie ‘Torque’ along with Ice Cube, Monet Mazur and Jaime Pressly.
Details about the 40-year-old actor’s surgeon role in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 12 are yet to be announced.
After Dr. Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) was killed off last season and Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) was left as a single mother, fans were shocked and disappointed with the actor’s untimely exit from the series.
Dempsey signed a two-year contract extension last year that would have guaranteed his stay in the ABC drama series until season 12.
"Derek Shepherd is and will always be an incredibly important character — for Meredith, for me and for the fans," series creator Shonda Rhimes said after the airing of the finale. "His loss will be felt by all."
The showrunner also opened up about how Dempsey’s performance as an actor significantly influenced the ways with which Derek’s character was molded based on their standards and expectations.
"Patrick Dempsey's performance shaped Derek in a way that I know we both hope became a meaningful example – happy, sad, romantic, painful and always true – of what young women should demand from modern love,” Rhimes explained.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dempsey opened up about his experience of exiting ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ The actor also understands why fans were extremely upset when his character was killed off the show.
“I think any time an original cast member has left, there’s always a void that will never be filled,” the actor said. “Shepherd is a beloved character. People don’t want to lose him. He’s been in their lives for over 10 years. But it goes on, and it will evolve.”
