As viewers gear up for the new year, FOX is set to deliver one of its most anticipated scripted dramas of the season. Memory of a Killer, starring Emmy nominee Patrick Dempsey in his return to broadcast television, premieres with a special two-night event starting Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 10/9c, immediately following the NFC Championship Game. The series continues the next evening on Monday, January 26, at 9/8c, following the Season 2 premiere of the survival series Extracted.
This high-stakes psychological thriller marks a bold shift for Dempsey, best known for his long-running role as the charismatic Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy… or Ronald Miller in ‘Can’t Buy Me Love,’ for us older folks. Here, he steps into the shadows as Angelo Doyle (also referred to as Angelo Ledda in some materials), a seasoned hitman maintaining a double life: a ruthless assassin in New York City by day and a quiet, family-oriented photocopier salesman and father in upstate Cooperstown by night.
The premise takes a devastating turn when Angelo is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. As his memory begins to fade, his carefully compartmentalized worlds collide, putting his family—including his pregnant daughter, Maria (played by Odeya Rush)—in grave danger. The series explores Angelo’s desperate race to protect his loved ones by hunting down his enemies, all while concealing his condition and continuing to carry out hits. Amid the chaos, he begins to rediscover his conscience, transforming the story into a poignant tale of redemption.
FOX describes the show as a “redemptive story about a man who is losing his memory but gaining a conscience.” It draws inspiration from the acclaimed 2003 Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer (also known as The Memory of a Killer or La Mémoire du Tueur), which was previously adapted into the 2022 American feature film Memory starring Liam Neeson.
The ensemble cast adds depth to the tense narrative. Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) plays Dutch, Angelo’s oldest friend and a chef whose restaurant serves as a front for criminal activities. Gina Torres (9-1-1: Lone Star) appears as Special Agent Linda Grant, while Richard Harmon portrays a fellow hitman named Joe. Additional roles include Daniel David Stewart as Maria’s husband Jeff and Peter Gadiot as local police detective Dave.
Developed by Ed Whitmore and Tracey Malone, the series is produced by Warner Bros. Television and FOX Entertainment. Executive producers include Dempsey himself, Cathy Schulman, Arthur Sarkissian, Martin Campbell, Peter Bouckaert, and others. The show features a 10-episode first season, with recent behind-the-scenes footage highlighting the cast’s insights into the high-stakes challenges of portraying a man whose mind is slipping away in a world of violence.
FOX executives have praised the series as a “propulsive” thriller with an “unrelenting hook,” comparing it to iconic network hits like 24 and House for its bold lead character and edge-of-your-seat tension.
With a strong promotional push—including trailers, teasers, and a behind-the-scenes video—Memory of a Killer promises to deliver a mix of intense action, emotional depth, and moral complexity. For fans of character-driven crime dramas with a twist, this could be the standout new series to watch in early 2026. Tune in starting January 25 on FOX for the premiere event.
