The wait for Grey’s Anatomy season 21 is almost over!
As fans may recall, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo, who will appear in seven episodes of the show’s upcoming season) resigned from her job at the hospital after Catherine Fox (Debbie Allen) discovered her secret Alzheimer’s research at the end of season 20. Teddy Altman (Kim Raver), Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) and Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) were also caught in the crosshairs of the controversy.
Now, showrunner Meg Marinis exclusively tells PEOPLE that the upcoming season, which premieres Sept. 26 on ABC, “picks up right where the finale left off and a lot is hanging in the balance.”
“Everyone’s jobs are on the line and on top of that, they’re all grappling with various challenges in their personal lives,” she continues. “I’m excited for fans to see how that all plays out for each of them. As for Meredith, even though she’s had good intentions, she’s crossed a line with Catherine and there will be consequences as a result.”
In a new exclusive promo, tension builds among the doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial, with a lawsuit, a physical altercation and the reemergence of some old faces.
“Sydney Heron’s back?” Meredith asks Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), who snarkily replies, “Yes, in all her passive-aggressive glory.”
The next few clips show Sydney (Kali Rocha) leading the residents — whose shoes she was once in on season 2 — by telling them to “heal with love!”
Another familiar face then appears: Jackson Avery, played by fan-favorite Jesse Williams.
“Welcome back,” Meredith greets him, although he doesn’t look too happy to be there.
The drama continues with Catherine Fox facing off with Bailey, telling her, “You think you’re God’s gift to this hospital? You’re just another doctor.” This statement is met with a slap from Bailey — right across Catherine’s face.
She remains in the hot seat later in the teaser when she tells Meredith and Bailey: “I’m going to sue you!”
“Your lawyers know where to find me,” Meredith snaps back before the trailer comes to an end.
In addition to the promo, PEOPLE can also exclusively reveal a first look at the season 21 key art, which features Meredith front and center surrounded by some familiar faces, including Miranda Bailey, Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) and Catherine Fox (Debbie Allen).
The image also features Meredith’s boyfriend Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman) alongside Winston Ndugu (Anthony Hill), Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd), Teddy Altman (Kim Raver), Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) and Monica Beltran (Natalie Morales). Atticus “Link” Lincoln (Chris Carmack) and Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) as well as the new interns — including Benson “Blue” Kwan (Harry Shum Jr.), Simone Griffin (Alexis Floyd) Lucas Adams (Niko Terho) Jules Millin (Adelaide Kane) and Mika Yasuda (Midori Francis) can also be seen.
Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli) and returning favorite Jason George, who will be back on Grey’s Anatomy as doctor-turned-firefighter Ben Warren following the ending of Station 19, are also featured.
Longtime Grey’s Anatomy fans will also see the return of Rocha, who played Dr. Sydney Heron in season 2-4 of the series. She stepped in for Bailey while she was on maternity leave and was at odds with Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) over their different medical philosophies.
“Clearly we have some fired attendings,” Marinis told Entertainment Weekly. “When we last saw Sydney, she was in light blue scrubs as a resident with Bailey. Now she’s an attending, but she’s still the character that delighted fans in those early days.”
“You should expect some funny interactions between Sydney and some of our newer characters who’ve never met her,” she added. “Her ‘healing with love’ philosophy and her kind of quirky nature is a little different for some.”
In addition to the returning favorites, there will be a new face at Grey Sloan Memorial for season 21.
PEOPLE can confirm that A Million Little Things alum Floriana Lima will join the series in a returning role. She is set to play Nora, who is a childhood friend of Owen and Megan Hunt’s (Abigail Spencer).
“Nora comes to Grey Sloan when a routine operation at another hospital results in dangerous complications. A devoted mother and recent divorcee, Nora is determined to do whatever it takes to survive so that she can be there for her children and experience the next chapter of her life,” according to an official description.
Grey’s Anatomy season 21 premieres Sept. 26 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.