"Grey's Anatomy" Season 12 will reportedly include some flashbacks featuring Patrick Dempsey's character Derek Shepherd.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ellen Pompeo recently said that losing Dempsey on the show was one of the most challenging parts of her year. The actress said that her former co-star's exit took a toll not only on the fans and the cast members but also on executive producer Shonda Rhimes.
Pompeo's statement surprised fans who initially thought that she had a falling out with Dempsey. There were some rumors that Pompeo was the one who told Dempsey's estranged wife about his infidelity.
Meanwhile, according to Youth Health Mag, Pompeo's positive statement about Dempsey may serve as an indication that he will return to the show but only as a guest star. Since Derek already passed away, the character may only be featured in a series of flashbacks.
One of the obvious choices as to when he can be shown on "Grey's Anatomy" is when Pompeo's Meredith Grey reaches that point in her life when she's ready to fall in love again.
During one episode of "Grey's Anatomy" season 12, Martin Henderson's Nathan Riggs tried to invite Meredith out for some drinks, but she refused. If Meredith and Nathan wouldn't end up together, it's still highly possible that Meredith will open her heart and fall in love with a male character.
Meanwhile, some fans believe that Jo (Camilla Luddington) will not accept Alex's (Justin Chambers) proposal. This will then open doors for Meredith and Alex to become a couple. On the other hand, it's also possible that a new male character will be introduced on the show, and he could become Meredith's newest love interest. As of late, none of these speculations have been confirmed by Rhimes or Pompeo.
"Grey's Anatomy" Season 12 will return to ABC on Feb. 11, 2016.
