Of the rumors and spoilers milling around, the most exciting is the possible return of Sandra Oh’s Dr. Cristina Yang to Grey’s Anatomy. After all, Cristina is Meredith’s person, and now that the death of Dr. Derek Shepherd has left Dr. Meredith Grey a widow, Cristina is needed now more than ever.

The Inquisitr has reported that with Ellen Pompeo’s contract expiring at the end of this season, creator Shonda Rhimes has played her plans for the title character of Meredith Grey close to the vest. Rhimes has been quoted as saying that the show is entering uncharted territory, perhaps meaning that the idea that a show would have to kill off its title character would be unknown for primetime television.

"Sandra Oh will ALWAYS be a member of the Grey's Anatomy family" -Shonda Rhimes pic.twitter.com/Gkun3ZAFXm — arabella (@sandraoh4rfans) August 11, 2015

The Venture Capital Post is reporting that the death of Patrick Dempsey’s character, Dr. Derek (McDreamy) Shepherd, has paved the way for Sandra Oh’s character, Dr. Cristina Yang, to return to Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital. As fans recall, Meredith and Cristina were the ultimate soul mates, and Cristina Yang/Sandra Oh’s exit was almost as hard on the cast as the death of Derek Shepherd.

The Day Herald is also adding information about the return of Sandra Oh to the Grey’s Anatomy cast.

“In season 12, Meredith will be seen teaming-up with Cristina, played by Sandra Oh, in a thrilling new journey. Cristina Yang left the series in its 10th Season.”

MNR Daily is also addressing the buzz that Dr. Cristina Yang will be back. It would make sense that “Cristina Yang might be heading back into the season to help Meredith on her new journey. After all, she is her ‘person’ and it would make sense that she will be there in her time of need.”

Tribute to Sandra Oh/ Cristina Yang / Grey's Anatomy https://t.co/NWqJZITy0J vía @YouTube — diana cecilia (@dianace2004) August 6, 2015

According to the Inquisitr, Shonda Rhimes is still defending killing off Dr. Derek Shepherd when Patrick Dempsey decided to leave the cast of Grey’s Anatomy. She is holding on to the idea that any other way of explaining McDreamy’s exit would make the Meredith/Derek love affair ring untrue.

The 12th season of Grey’s Anatomy will premiere on September 24.

Are you excited that Dr. Cristina Yang might return?

**UPDATE**

The Vine Report indicates that the signs are pointing to a Cristina Yang return to Grey’s Anatomy. Kevin McKidd, who plays Dr. Owen Hunt says that Cristina Yang has already been back, as she was photographed at McDremy’s funeral.

“Cristina was there. I presume Sandra was busy and unavailable for that episode, which was the only reason why [the body double was used]. That funeral sequence was meant to imply that Cristina was obviously there for Meredith. Her presence was felt,” he said to TVLine.

Is Cristina returning??? https://t.co/MvGjRfC7yH — Dr Arizona McHappy (@melgua86) February 16, 2016

But People Magazine believes that Denzel Washington wouldn’t be stepping into a directorial role on Grey’s Anatomy for just a normal story line.

“We’ve got some serious stuff going on with [Dr. Meredith Grey] right when we get back,” Jerrika Hinton, who plays Dr. Stephanie Edwards, told PEOPLE. “Some stuff that in a way makes it feel like, ‘Whoa! We’re doing this in the middle of the season? This feels like finale stuff.’ At the table read, we were all like, ‘What?!’ ” adds Hinton.

Alex has been Meredith’s stand-in person while Cristina Yang in away, but that might be changing, as Alex must be exhausted with all the Mer drama.

“[They are] dealing with their drama that they will perpetually have,” Hinton says with a laugh.

Do you think Cristina Yang will be returning to Grey’s Anatomy this season?

[Photo courtesy of Frederick Brown/Getty Images]