'Highly Possible' Patrick Dempsey Will Spend Time Away from GREY'S ANATOMY, Shonda Rhimes Says

GREY'S ANATOMY's Derek Shepherd may soon be heading to Washington D.C., but series star Patrick Dempsey isn't gone for good.

Creator Shonda Rhimes has confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that Dempsey probably won't be appearing in several upcoming episodes on the ABC medical drama - though assured he'd eventually return.

"It's highly possible that we might not see Derek for a while," Rhimes said. "There will be a time when you see him again, yes, but it's probable that you won't see Derek for a while."

On the state of Derek and Meredith's relationship following the winter finale, Rhimes said: "

"We end them in a fairly dark place," executive producer Shonda Rhimes tells EW. "He's walking away and she's sort of pushed him out the door. It's like, you call someone's bluff and push them out the door. He's having a hard time, she's having a hard time with this."

Recipient of the 2007 Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Television Series and nominated for multiple Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series, "Grey's Anatomy" is considered one of the great television shows of our time. The high-intensity medical drama, now in its eleventh season, follows the personal and professional lives of a group of doctors at Seattle's Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

"Grey's Anatomy" stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Jessica Capshaw as Arizona Robbins, Jesse Williams as Jackson Avery, Sarah Drew as April Kepner, Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd, Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson, and Jerrika Hinton as Stephanie Edwards.

"Grey's Anatomy" was created and is executive-produced by Shonda Rhimes ("Scandal," "Private Practice," "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge"). Betsy Beers ("Scandal," "Private Practice," "Casanova"), Mark Gordon ("Saving Private Ryan"), Rob Corn ("Chicago Hope"), William Harper, Stacy McKee and Zoanne Clack are executive producers. "Grey's Anatomy" is an ABC Studios production.

Photo by ABC/Bob D'Amico

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