The fifth season of Scandal has booked its first new full-time cast member.
Cornelius Smith Jr., best known to Scandal season 4 viewers as activist Marcus Walker, will be appearing in nearly every episode when season 5 kicks off later this year.
While Smith Jr.’s expanded role has yet to be revealed, there have been murmurs that the character of Marcus could be joining the team at Olivia Pope & Associates in Scandal season 5. That seems very likely considering he’ll be appearing in much of the new season. Another potential option is a role in the White House (perhaps offering Olivia-like advice on race issues? He made a name for himself during the episode inspired by the real-life events in Ferguson, Missouri).
Scandal has lost two Gladiators over the past year — Abby went to the White House, and Harrison left the story after the actor who portrayed him got himself into real-world trouble.
With those two vacancies in mind, the evidence of Marcus being hired as a Gladiator by Olivia Pope makes even more sense.
Scandal season 5 premieres Thursday, September 24 at 9 p.m. eastern/pacific on ABC.
In case you need a refresher: The Scandal season 4 finale found Olivia and Fitz rekindling their romance on the White House balcony, so expect things to be back to normal between those two as we enter the fifth run. Meanwhile, Rowan was thrown back in jail, Mellie and Jake both ran away, and Huck may’ve been killed (another reason Marcus may be hired as a Gladiator!). For more, check out our recap of the season 4 finale!