Scandal Season 4 Spoilers: New Character to Replace Harrison?

Actor Columbus Short played Harrison Wright on ABC's Scandal for three seasons but will not return for Season 4 thanks to some off-camera troubles. Series creator Shonda Rhimes has already said she has no intention of recasting the character, but what about replacing him?

The "Ask Ausiello" column at TVLine reports the possibility of a new character:

"This scoop is rated 'T for Tentative,' but I hear the show is looking to add a new recurring character to the mix who is described in the casting notice as an African-American lawyer in his 30s to 50s. There's no timetable for the newbie's arrival, and the whole thing could be scrapped if Shonda Rhimes doesn't find the right actor. (She already made it pretty clear that she's in no rush to beef up the cast.) Also worth noting: This is not a Harrison recast."

If it's not a recast, then it could be a replacement to return the Olivia Pope and Associates team to its former numbers.

Speaking of Harrison, Betsy Beers provided part of the answer to how the show would write off the character in the "Spoiler Chat" column at E! Online:

"Wear black when you tune in for the premiere because Harrison will be long gone. 'I think the key with every character's exit on all of our shows is the writers try to find the most appropriate and interesting and phenomenal way of exiting the character,' Betsy Beers said. 'I think, as a fan, they found an amazing explosive and dramatic way for him to exit.'"

Harrison's last appearance in Season 3 was at the business end of a gun, so it looks like that's his way off the show.

Do you think someone will/should replace Harrison? Let us know in the comments below.