Grey’s Anatomy Season 11 Spoilers: Meredith, Maggie in New Photos; Derek Nowhere to be Seen (+Premiere Date)

Jerrika Hinton as Stephanie Edwards, Kelly McCreary as Maggie Pierce and Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey in Grey's Anatomy season 11 episode 1. ABC

Meredith and Maggie are two of the characters featured in new images from the Grey’s Anatomy season 11 premiere, while Derek is nowhere to be seen.

Maggie, Meredith’s half-sister, is set to fill in for departed Cristina.

She’s the daughter of Ellis Grey and onetime lover Richard Weber.

ABC released the official description of episode 1 along with the new pictures.

“With Cristina gone, a new doctor, Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary), making the rounds and Derek wanting to move to Washington DC, Meredith struggles to regain a sense of normalcy both at home and in the hospital,” it says.

“Meanwhile, Callie and Arizona come to a decision about surrogacy, Amelia overhears a big secret, Bailey realizes she will have to fight Alex for Cristina’s board seat and a freak accident causes two teenagers to be caught in a very compromising position, on the must-see season premiere.”

Jerrika Hinton as Stephanie Edwards and Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey. ABC

Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres, Jessica Capshaw as Arizona Robbins and Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt.

Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres and Jessica Capshaw as Arizona Robbins. ABC

Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt and Sarah Drew as April Kepner. ABC

Regarding the season, showrunner Shonda Rhimes previously said that it would be focused on Meredith, and that while she and Derek are struggling they will likely not split.

A video clip released earlier this month showed Meredith telling Derek that she’s not going to Washington, opting to stay in Seattle.

Also, April tells Jackson that it seems like Derek is “dying inside” as Meredith leans on Alex after Cristina’s departure.

Meredith is pondering whether the marriage can survive the living arrangement debate with Derek.

Grey’s Anatomy season 11 premieres on September 25.