We have two months more to wait until the Season 21 premiere of Greys Anatomy, but already, we know a whole lot about what to expect when Greys Sloans doctors scrub in on Thursday, September 26 (at 10/9c on ABC). For instance

Unlike Season 20, which was shortened because of the writers and actors strikes, Season 21 will be 18 episodes long. In addition, Ellen Pompeo will have a greater presence as Meredith than she did the last go-round; shes set to appear in seven episodes and possibly as many as 14.

Though budget cuts will reduce the screen time of many veteran cast members, we will be getting one alum back: Jason George, who crossed over Baileys husband Ben to Station 19 seven seasons ago, will be bringing the character back to finish his surgical residency.

As far as cast cuts go, Jake Borelli, who plays Levi, is out, as is Midori Francis, who plays Mika. On his way in is a new recurring character, the hospitals gay chaplain. (That part has yet to be cast.)

Storyline-wise, you can get a sense of what Season 21 of Greys Anatomy holds in store below

Season 20 ended with Meredith and Nick more committed than ever to one another. (Shed even bought them a house.) Now theres nothing standing in the way of their tying the knot.

Bens return to the residency program is set to make his wife his boss. Has he gotten his passion for feats of derring-do out of his system enough to keep from setting off the fire alarms in her head?

Considering that he and Jo agreed they werent ready to have a baby together, hes sure to be thrown by the revelation that shes expecting but not so thrown that we cant imagine him proposing.

Though Simone and the other interns went to bat for Lucas, he still has a choice to make. Nice as it is that his peers and Bailey have his back, Maggies offer to move to Chicago and work with her is hella tempting.

It promises to be awkward with a capital A when Amelia learns that after being turned down for a date by Monica, the new doc started sleeping with Winston.

Richard has realized that its time for him to leave the operating room. But where does that leave him, period? Hell face a major challenge as he tries to figure out who he is without a scalpel in hand.

The one-two punch of the reappearance of Blues amnesiac old flame and Jules near-kiss with Mika probably means the end of the residents no-strings affair. Unless they finally admit that theyve caught feelings!

To facilitate Francis exit, Mika will likely relocate to another hospital, one where she doesnt have to work under ex-girlfriend Helm. As for Levi, watch for the peds fellowship hes been chasing to be outside of Seattle.

Dont expect Meredith, Teddy, Amelia and Owen to be out of work for long. Catherine cant expect Grey Sloan to keep functioning with half of its surgeons warming the bench!

Check out the below photo gallery to see whos coming and whos going on more shows.

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Greys Anatomy Season 21 Preview: Whos Hooking Up, Whos Scrubbing Out and Whos Heading for a Wedding - Soaps.com