"Scandal" Season 4 Returns to the Air in September 2014; Creator Shonda Rhimes Leaks Photo of First Episode Script, and Portia de Rossi Will Join Cast of Season Four

By Dominique Chessor Jul 28, 2014 02:14 PM EDT

Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in a still from the season three finale of "Scandal" — (Photo : hollywoodreporter.com)

"Scandal" Season 4 Returns to the Air in September 2014; Creator Shonda Rhimes Leaks Photo of First Episode Script, and Portia de Rossi Will Join Cast of Season Four

Shonda Rhimes, creator of the hit ABC show "Scandal," posted a photo of the cover page of the season 4 premiere episode script to her Twitter account. The title is "Randy, Red, Superfreak, and Julia," and it shows that Tom Verica is the director of the first episode.

We know from previous information leaked that the first episode of season 4 will not begin exactly where the last episode of season 3 left off. There will be a small time jump, some time into the future. As fans of the show will already know, Fitz was re-elected to the presidency at the close of season 3, but Olivia was not with him. She was bound for an unknown location with Jake, so fans can assume that we will find out where and what exactly the two were doing at the end of season 3.

Rhimes told The Hollywood reporter, "...Season four is going to be very different from season three, the same way season two was different from season one..." After Rowan's attempt to kill Fitz's son was successful in the season three finale, Rhimes said, "Everybody's life has got wiped clean in a very odd way."

Word has also been released that Portia de Rossi will be joining the cast for season four. Though we do not know what role de Rossi will be playing, we know that the role is a multi-episode one. Actor Columbus Short will not be returning for season four; fans can assume that Harrison Wright, Short's character, is dead after being shot by Rowan's man in the finale.

Season 4 of "Scandal" returns on September 25.

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