Riot Act

What Brings Denny Back to Grey's?

Jeffrey Dean Morgan is on his way back to Grey's Anatomy... but why, and how?

JDM originally played Izzie's ill-fated patient/sweetheart, yet ultimately saw that run come to an end when Denny's ticker timed out.

Morgan would later reprise his role for an episode in which a waterlogged Mer flirted with death, but was urged by Dead Denny and Dead Kyle Chandler to choose life.

So what now? Is Grey's going to kill off Izzie, as has been rumored by one online site, and Denny will resurface to escort his love to The Other Side? In a word, no. For starters, at least one inside source assures me that there is no plan to off Izzie as a means of punishing outspoken cast member Katherine Heigl. Besides, Morgan has already filmed his scenes, which are to air in the season premiere, so the timing is too soon to even accomodate any such tearjerker.

My take? Denny will appear to Izzie in a dream, as a sort of "epiphany" to the sometimes aimless doc to get her ish together. How and why would you bring him back for the season opener?

Jeffrey Dean Morgan Not Ruling Out Grey’s Anatomy Return

Jeffrey Dean Morgan, beloved by Grey’s Anatomy fans for playing Izzie Stevens’s smitten but doomed patient Denny Duquette, isn’t ruling out the possibility that he may return for the show’s fifth season.

“We’ll see,” Morgan told PEOPLE Friday when asked about rumors that Denny would return to Grey’s next fall in a possible brain tumor storyline for Katherine Heigl’s character Izzie. “I read about that, too. Who knows what’s going to happen?”

If the call does come from the medical drama, Morgan said he be thrilled to be romantically paired with Heigl again on-screen. “She’s awesome,” Morgan said. “I had a blast with her. She’s wonderful and I can’t say enough good things about her and that whole cast.”

As for Heigl’s recent Emmy flap, Morgan says her comments were most likely misunderstood–and even if they weren’t, he finds her candor refreshing.

“I think that stuff gets blown completely out of proportion,” he said. “She just speaks her mind. That’s exactly what she does and maybe more people should speak their mind.”

Morgan, who has has a busy year filming movies since, was at San Diego’s Comic-Con International to unveil footage from one of next year’s most-anticipated comic book adaptations, the acclaimed Watchmen, in which he plays ruthless superhero The Comedian–a far cry from the endearing Denny.

“This is something that’s a little different than I’ve ever done,” he said. “I’m known for being the nice guy, and the opportunity to play a f—ing devil reincarnated…was something that I would’ve never passed up.”

Shonda Rhimes: Katherine Heigl’s Izzie Won’t Have a Brain Tumor

There will be plenty of heart-skipping developments come fall for Grey’s Anatomy, but a brain tumor for Katherine Heigl’s character Izzie Stevens won’t be one of them.

GA executive producer Shonda Rhimes says that rumors of a medical crisis for Izzie are not true–but viewers can expect some “interesting sparks” between Alex and Izzie following their season finale hookup, reports E! online.

The other characters will also have plenty of drama to deal with outside of the OR. Though GA resident couple MerDer finally reunited last season, don’t expect the tumultuous Seattle Grace doctors to settle down. Says Rhimes, “It’s really exciting to see what’s going to come next and how [Meredith's] going to deal with living with a boy, and all the things a man like Derek, who has been married and is a grown-up, might expect.”

Another romance to keep an eye on: Callie and Erica, who will continue to explore their relationship. “They are definitely on a journey, and it’s going to be a really interesting one…also both actresses are so game; they’re so willing to do something,” says Rhimes.

Fans can also expect to see some new faces at Seattle Grace. Scottish actor Kevin McKidd (of Journeyman) will join the cast as a military doctor who comes to the hospital on leave, and will possibly be a love interest for Sandra Oh’s Cristina, who spent most of last season in a funk following fiancé Preston Burke’s departure. Says Rhimes, “I think Cristina might find him fairly interesting.”

I don't know if it's going to work with the story, and we don't want her to come back for a visit if it doesn't feel important, something only Addison can do," Rhimes told Entertainment Weekly. "But the idea is on the table." Yes, so it’s true. Addison may be stopping by Seattle Grace but stopping by is all she’ll do. On Private Practice, the sexy doctor will be finding love of her own with Officer Kevin this season, who makes her forget all about her dramatic, on again off again relationship with Dr. Peter Wilder.

Kate Walsh couldn’t be happier that her character is getting a little lovin’. "We only knew her as the miserable part of a triangle [with Derek and Meredith]”, Walsh told USA Today this week. "It's interesting to see this character with someone who wants to be with her — in a good way. That's been fun to explore, what it's like to date and perhaps date successfully."

Grey’s Anatomy returns for its 5th season on Thursday, September 25th, at 9pm ET while Private Practice is back for its 2nd season, starting Wednesday, October 1st, at 9pm ET.