When fans last saw actor Omar Epps on the hit medical series, House, his character, Dr. Eric Foreman, was spending his final day at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital.

However, Foreman’s decision to leave Dr. Gregory House’s (Hugh Laurie) medical team does not mean that viewers will not be seeing Epps on the series next season.

In an interview with TVGuide, the 33-year-old actor said that he will be back for the show’s fourth installment, though changes regarding his character should be expected.

Epps has been appearing in the series since it premiered in 2004. His portrayal of the skillful neurologist earned him a 2007 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, but prior to his inclusion in House, he had already experienced working on a medical drama series. He portrayed Dr. Dennis Gant in ten episodes of the 1996-1997 season of NBC’s ER.

Up until the third season of House, Foreman was depicted as a highly-intelligent but brutally honest doctor. He was not known to sugarcoat his opinions and his insensitivity mirrored that of Dr. House’s. However, when he realized that he too had begun to disregard patients’ lives, he decided it would be best for him to move on.

“The short answer is he doesn't want to become House,” Epps said of Foreman’s decision to leave the hospital. “House is judgmental — he's callous toward humanity. Foreman is an optimist, (but) he sees the dark side that House always talks about. It's getting to be a bit much.”

Epps also believes that his character wants to “be a great doctor and maybe run a department someday.”

Although Foreman’s departure from Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching hospital means a different structure for the show’s fourth season, Epps is not concerned.

“The show has good ratings,” Epps said. “But it's been three years of the same formula, and we should push it a little bit before people get complacent.”

-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist

Source: TVGuide

(Photo Courtesy of FOX)