According to today's Us Weekly, Katherine Heigl's Dr. Izzie Stevens could be killed off Grey's Anatomy next season - a piece of gossip that we've already discussed at length, and the source of which must be considered here.

Heigl, 29, withdrew herself from the Emmy Awards process, saying that she didn’t feel she was “given the material this season” to warrant an award.

In response to this well-publicized griping, the Grey's Anatomy producers are considering giving Izzie Stevens a brain tumor, according to Us Weekly.

“Shonda Rhimes and the writers are pissed,” a source says. “It’s their way of screwing with her. She won’t know whether she’s going to live or die.”

Regardless, there’s some good - and actually confirmed - news for fans: memorable Grey's Anatomy guest star Jeffrey Dean Morgan will reprise his role as Denny Duquette again! As we know, Denny passed away in Season Two, then returned to the show in Season Three during Meredith Grey's temporary visit to the afterlife.

How will be return to the show yet again in Season Five? One popular theory is that Izzie will begin seing visions of Denny after contracting her tumor.

A second source adds that such a plot, ironically, would be great for Katherine Heigl: “If her character does get a tumor, she’ll probably get an Emmy!”

A rep for ABC commented only briefly, saying, “We can confirm that [Jeffrey Dean Morgan] will be back, but we are not releasing any further details.”

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.