Oscar Award-winning actor Denzel Washington will soon be visiting Shondaland, but not to make an on-screen appearance.
The A-List actor will make his television directorial debut when he mans the director’s chair for an upcoming episode of Shonda Rhimes’ long-running hit medical drama, “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Washington is set to direct the ninth episode of the current season that will go into production later this month. Thus far, no storyline details have been given for the episode, but it will be written by veteran “Grey’s” writer Stacy McKee.
It was actually Debbie Allen, who was recently named executive producer of the show, that selected Washington to direct. Allen, who has directed a number of episodes of all three #TGIT shows (“Grey’s,” “Scandal,” “How To Get Away With Murder“), says she wants to put more minorities and women in the driver’s seat of the series.
“I’m selecting the directors this season,” Allen told Variety magazine, adding that she’s putting an emphasis on hiring women behind the scenes. “Over our 24 episodes, 10 of them are directed by women, and I’m still looking.”
Washington has previously directed two films, 2002’s Antwone Fisher and 2007’s The Great Debaters.
“Grey’s Anatomy” airs Thursdays at 8 p.m EST on ABC.
