Noah Wyle Returns as the ‘Prodigal Son’ in Intense First Teaser for The Pitt Season 2

Fans got a first look at what’s to come in the emergency department at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital in a teaser for The Pitt season 2
The clip shows the return of Dr. Frank Langdon (Patrick Ball) and nurse Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa) while Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) preps himself for another day in the chaotic ER
The Pitt season 2 will premiere in January on HBO

It’s a new day in the pit.

On Thursday, Aug. 21, HBO released the first teaser for The Pitt season 2, giving fans a first look at what’s to come during a brand-new day in the Pittsburgh hospital.

As the teaser begins, Noah Wyle’s Dr. Robby walks in for his shift.

“The prodigal son returns,” a nurse says from behind the desk as he enters the emergency department. Beside her, Dana (Katherine LaNasa), who appeared to quit at the end of season 1, gives him a look.

There are plenty of new challenging medical emergencies to come for the ER crew in season 2.

In the teaser, some of the department’s patients include a newborn baby and an unruly person thrashing around in an ambulance. At one point, two police officers run through the wing.

Katherine LaNasa in ‘The Pitt’ season 2.HBO Max/Youtube

The teaser also sees the return of Dr. Frank Langdon (Patrick Ball), whose fate was left up in the air in season 1 after his prescription drug addiction was revealed.

“Tier one trauma, E.T.A. 6 minutes,” a voice announces in the wing. “And so it begins,” Dr. Robby says as he prepares for another jam-packed shift.

“You guys do this every day?” a nurse standing beside Dr. Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi) asks as the intense teaser comes to a close.

“If we’re lucky,” quips Dr. Santos (Isa Briones).

Whitaker (Gerran Howell), Dr. McKay (Fiona Dourif), Dr. King (Taylor Dearden), Javadi (Shabana Azeez) and Dr. Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) all appear in the teaser as well.

One cast member missing is Dr. Heather Collins (Tracy Ifeachor). It was reported in July that she would not be returning.

Ifeachor hinted that she was leaving with an Instagram video on Wednesday, July 9, in which she bid farewell to her character.

“What a blessing to be a part of this first and foundational season of #ThePitt on @hbomax. It was an absolute privilege to play Dr. Heather Collins in such a groundbreaking season and piece,” she captioned her Instagram video. “Thank you to everyone who has watched & supported Season 1 & shared their stories with me.”

The Pitt was nominated for 13 Emmys for season 1.

The nominations were announced while the cast was filming season 2 and several videos shared on social media showed the actors applauding and celebrating their accomplishments.

An Instagram video shared by HBO Max showed LaNasa, 58, and Wyle, 54, celebrating their nominations on set. LaNasa was nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series, while the ER alum was nominated for outstanding lead actor in a drama series.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Wyle said of the nomination, “I’m overjoyed that the nominations were spread across all the different departments as it reflects our collective effort. A heartfelt congrats to all my fellow nominees. I’m humbled and grateful.”

Noah Wyle and Sepideh Moafi in ‘The Pitt’ season 2.HBO Max/Youtube

LaNasa also expressed her gratitude in a statement after her nomination. “To receive this level of recognition at this stage of my career is a delightful surprise,” she said. “I am so very proud of The Pitt and especially grateful to Noah, John and Scott for entrusting me with Dana. I am beyond humbled to be included in this group of beautifully talented actresses.”

Following season 1’s wildly impressive run, the cast has been open about feeling the pressure going into season 2.

During a panel at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif. in May, The Pitt‘s creator R. Scott Gemmill said of season 2, “You don’t want the sophomore curse.”

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“We were unusual in our first season in the sense that we shot, we had been shooting before the show aired, so we were just having this little fun in our little bubble over on stage, and we had no idea if anyone was even going to watch the show,” he said. “And then it became so much more than what we expected. And so now it’s like, ‘Oh, okay. Now everyone’s looking.’ Sometimes it’s better to be under the radar.”

The cast of ‘The Pitt’ in season 2.HBO Max/Youtube

Wyle said that the success of season 1 is a “good thing to be mindful of” for season 2, but it’s “really something you have to shut out completely.”

“You have to almost have it be a non-factor and create the same sense of privacy and same sense of hermetic sealed off, insulated sense of company that we built the first year,” he said. “I think if we’re successful in that regard, then the storytelling will just roll out.”

The Pitt season 2 premieres in January on HBO.