denzel washington grey's anatomy
Actor Denzel Washington, pictured at "The Equalizer" New York premiere on Sept. 22, 2014, in New York City, will head to the set of "Grey's Anatomy" to direct a Season 12 episode of the hit ABC series. Getty Images

Denzel Washington is headed to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital! Well, sort of. According to reports, the two-time Oscar winner will be directing an upcoming Season 12 installment of “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Entertainment Weekly confirmed the exciting news, revealing that the handsome, 60-year-old actor would be directing this season’s ninth episode of the hit ABC drama, which was written by Stacy McKee. TVLine reported that filming for Washington’s upcoming installment would begin shooting later this month and will air during November sweeps – a time during the fall TV season that is typically when show’s release their most dramatic episodes.

Episode 9 of “Grey’s Anatomy” will mark Washington’s first directing gig on the small screen. The actor made his directorial debut in 2002 when he directed “Antwone Fisher” and again in 2007 when he held the title while directing “The Great Debaters.”

“I have a great appreciation for what a director does,” Washington told the Digital Journal in 2011 in regards to his directing experience. “I had no idea. I just thought it was ‘Action. Cut. Press junket.’ You know? It’s a little bit more than that.”

The actor continued, stating that he was “very fortunate to work with some great filmmakers” like Spike Lee, who’s work he studied.

“Now as a filmmaker, I can apply it all now,” he spoke of using the knowledge he’s learned and applying it toward other projects – like “Grey’s Anatomy.” “All of that was in the store, but now I'm getting the chance to use it."

E! Online noted that Washington will reunite with his friend Debbie Allen, who stars as Catherine Avery on the Shonda Rhimes-created medical drama, during his directing stint on the series. Hopefully Allen can give her old pal some directing tips seeing as though she’s directed her fair share of TV series – specifically in the world of Shondaland.

According to Allen’s IMDb page, she’s directed eight episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy,” three episodes of “Scandal” and one installment from “How to Get Away with Murder.”

Are you excited that Denzel Washington is directing Season 12, episode 9 of “Grey’s Anatomy”? Sound off in the comments section below and don’t forget to tune in to “Grey’s Anatomy” when the hit ABC series airs Thursday nights at 8 p.m. EDT.

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