ABC/RANDY HOLMES

Buzz up!

Katherine Heigl could be killed off Grey's Anatomy next season, a well-placed source tells Us Weekly in its latest issue.

The idea came after Heigl, 29, withdrew herself from Emmy contention, saying that she didn't feel she was "given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination."

In response to Heigl's griping, staffers are considering giving her character, Dr. Izzie Stevens, a brain tumor.

"[Producer] Shonda [Rhimes] and the writers are pissed at her," the source tells Us. "It's their way of screwing with her. She won't know whether she's going to live or die."

Still, there's good news for fans sad to see Izzie suffer: newly single Jeffrey Dean Morgan will reprise his role as hunky patient Denny Duquette, whom Izzie will see in visions brought on by the tumor.

And a second source thinks the story arc, ironically, may not be a bad thing for Heigl: "If her character does get a brain tumor, she'll probably get an Emmy!"

A rep for ABC tells Us, "We can confirm that [Morgan] will be back, but we are not releasing any further details."

At Wednesday's Television Critics Association's annual fall preview, ABC entertainment president Stephen McPherson insisted Heigl is "absolutely staying with the show. There's an unbelievable storyline this season."

The show returns September 25 with a two-hour premiere.