When Memory of a Killer landed on Fox on Jan. 25, 2026, it brought with it one of the more gripping premises of the season. Dempsey plays Angelo Doyle, a contract killer quietly losing his grip on reality as early-onset Alzheimer’s starts closing in. The show draws from the 2003 Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer and a 1985 novel of the same name. It’s dark, layered, and it hooked enough viewers to prompt the inevitable follow-up question.
Season 1 is still playing out, episode nine, Shoot The Piano Player, drops March 30, but the renewal conversation has already started. Fox hasn’t said a word officially. And yet, the signals coming out of the network are worth paying attention to. Is Season 2 happening? And does Dempsey come back for it?
CategoryDetailsCreated ByEd Whitmore & Tracey MaloneBased OnDe Zaak Alzheimer (2003 Belgian film & 1985 novel)StarringPatrick Dempsey, Michael Imperioli, Gina TorresNetworkFoxPremiere DateJan. 25, 2026StreamingHulu (U.S.), Stan (Australia)Rotten Tomatoes (as of March 29)50%|71%IMDb (as of March 29)6.9/10
Has Memory of a Killer Been Renewed for Season 2? Latest Updates
A face off in Memory of a Killer | Credit: Fox
Not yet. Fox hasn’t made it official either way. What makes this more than a waiting game, though, is how the show has actually performed. Memory of a Killer ranked among Fox’s better-performing scripted dramas early in its run, and it found real streaming traction on Hulu, the kind of cross-platform pull that carries serious weight in renewal conversations today.
The concern? Linear ratings reportedly softened after the premiere. That mid-season dip is exactly the kind of pattern network executives lose sleep over. Holding casual viewers past episode one is a different challenge than winning them initially.
There’s also the backstage turbulence worth knowing about. The original co-showrunners, Ed Whitmore, Tracey Malone, and David Schulner, exited in November 2025. Aaron Zelman and Glenn Kessler stepped in to take over. A shakeup that significant mid-production doesn’t go unnoticed when renewal decisions land on a network president’s desk.
But here’s what works in the show’s favor: streaming numbers don’t lie. If Hulu engagement stays strong through Season 1’s final episodes, Fox has every reason to look past the linear dip. The network is increasingly thinking beyond traditional Nielsen ratings, and Memory of a Killer fits the profile of a show that plays better on demand than live. Renewal odds right now? Moderate to strong. Not locked in, but very much alive.
Will Patrick Dempsey Return as Angelo Doyle? Cast Expectations
Take a second and think about what Memory of a Killer actually is without Angelo Doyle at the center of it. There isn’t much left.
The entire show is built around one man’s unraveling as a hitman whose professional precision is quietly being dismantled by his own mind. That’s not a supporting role someone else steps into. It’s the engine that runs the whole story. Recasting or writing him out wouldn’t just change the show; it would end it.
Dempsey also executive produces the series, which says a lot about where his head is at. That level of behind-the-scenes investment isn’t something actors sign on for when they’re planning a quiet exit after one season.
The story itself practically demands his return. Season 1 has been threading unresolved arcs, including the Ferryman storyline introduced in episode two, alongside Angelo’s deteriorating condition and the threat hanging over his pregnant daughter Maria. Michael Imperioli’s Dutch, Gina Torres’ FBI agent Linda Grant, and Michaela McManus’ Nicky all sit in orbits that haven’t fully collided yet.
If Fox greenlights Season 2, Dempsey isn’t just likely to return; he’s the whole reason it gets made. A premiere window in the 2026-27 TV season seems realistic, should the renewal come through.
Still have questions about Memory of a Killer’s future? Here’s what we know.
Has Memory of a Killer been renewed for Season 2?
No. As of now, Fox has not officially renewed the show. A decision is expected after Season 1 wraps.
When did Memory of a Killer premiere?
The series premiered on Fox on Jan. 25, 2026.
Who plays Angelo Doyle?
Patrick Dempsey leads the cast as Angelo Doyle. He also serves as an executive producer on the series.
Do you think Fox will pull the trigger on Season 2? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
Memory of a Killer airs on Fox and streams on Hulu.
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