The actor teases about the “big test” coming up in their relationship

Grey’s Anatomy returns a week from Thursday and will bring a host of new drama to the show which is wrapping up its seventh season. Kevin McKidd, who plays Dr. Owen Hunt in the series, chatted with us at the John Varvados 8th Annual Stuart House Benefit and spoke about upcoming conflicts in his onscreen marriage to Dr. Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh).

“People can split up when they’re married,” says Kevin. “I’m not saying that that is what’s going to happen. Something is coming that is not going to bode well for Owen and Christina and it’s going to be a big test.”

The Scottish actor explains this conflict, in true Shonda Rhimes fashion, is ill-timed. “Just when they’re in a happy place something comes along that really tests the boundaries of their relationship [...] Things are going to get bumpy again.”

And will this conflict resolve itself by the season finale or leave the fans with a cliffhanger? For those of you who hate waiting the whole summer to find out what happens, you might be disappointed. “[The conflict] leads us into season eight in quite an interesting way,” reveals Kevin.

The popular redhead has spoken to TVLine before about trouble brewing for the newlyweds, and apparently he doesn’t just mean their argument over whether or not they have kids. “There’s an added complication to the mix between Owen and Cristina that comes from left field in the latter part of the season as well, that isn’t connected to babies,” Kevin recently told E! Online. “A work-related issue [...] she’s not in direct competition with Owen, but Owen suddenly finds himself in the line of fire.”

Are you sad to hear there’s drama ahead for Cristina and Owen or are you excited to see their new marriage tested?

Lorena O’Neil with reporting by Kirstin Benson