What's Patrick Dempsey's New Project Now that He's Not on 'Grey's Anatomy'?

Patrick Dempsey, who quit "Grey's Anatomy" a few months back, much to the disappointment of his fans, is currently focusing on his love for racing as he reportedly continues to look for an acting gig that would allow him to essay character totally different from his Dr Derek Shepherd.

Dempsey said in a recent interview that he does not want to essay a role similar to "Grey's Anatomy's" Derek, a dashing surgeon who falls in love with an intern, Meredith. However, Dempsey is worried that it will take viewers some time to accept him in a different role.

"I want to try something different. But will I be allowed to do something different? Is Derek so identifiable that I can't go on and be someone else? That will be the challenge. To see if people embrace me as someone else," Dempsey told Entertainment Weekly.

There is still a lot of mystery regarding his exit from the popular medical drama, with some reports claiming that he was fired from the show after he allegedly got involved with a crew member.

However, neither Dempsey nor showrunner Shonda Rhimes has commented on this.

As for his next project, the 49-year-old actor, who recently took part in the Le Mans 24 Hours in France, is said to be working on a racing show based on the book "The Limit."

"The projects that I'm developing are European based, two, one of which is a racing show," the actor told AFP. "[It] would be a limited series, based on the book The Limit, which is about Phil Hill winning the championship in F1. And it's not so much the racing, but it is what happens when you get out of the car and before you get into the car. I think that's fascinating for me to see."

"Grey's Anatomy" will return to ABC in September, and a new doctor is expected to fill the void left behind by Dempsey's Derek. However, it is not immediately known if he will be Meredith's future love interest.