Actress Kerry Washington
Actress Kerry Washington poses at the Women In Film Los Angeles 2014 Crystal + Lucy Awards in Century City, California June 11, 2014. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Ellen DeGeneres recently took to Twitter to announce that her wife Portia de Rossi is joining the cast of "Scandal" Season 4. The details about her character, however, have been kept under wraps. The only detail that has surfaced is that Portia is playing a "formidable" character.

Shonda Rhimes, creator of "Scandal," told TV Line that Portia is playing "a very formidable person." The creator refused to reveal more details about the character. Is she playing one of the senators or someone joining President Fitz's new team? The last season saw "Friends" alum Lisa Kudrow playing Congresswoman from Montana, Senator Josie Marcus.

Meanwhile, "Lost" alum Sonya Walger has signed on to star in "Scandal" Season 4, according to TV Line. She is likely to have a recurring role. The details about her character are not yet known.

Earlier, there were reports about "Scandal" teaming shooting some scenes of Season 4 in Washington DC. According to TV Line, Rhimes would like to shoot there but budget is a major issue.

Speaking about filming some scenes in Washington DC, Rhimes said to TV Line, "It's expensive to go there, for any production. But we'd like to. We hope to. We're trying to save our pennies."

"Scandal" Season 4 is scheduled to premiere on September 25, 2014 on ABC at a new time. The new season is set to re-invent itself. The premiere episode is likely to open with a time-jump and the focus is expected to return on Olivia Pope.

The last season of "Scandal," which consisted of 18 episodes because of Kerry Washington's real life pregnancy, ended on multiple-cliffhangers. Fitz got re-elected as the President, riding on sympathy wave because of his son's death. Olivia gave Abby the responsibility to run Olivia Pope & Associates. And, she boarded a plane, with Jake, to go to an undisclosed location. It was revealed that it is Rowan who planned the murder of Fitz's son, not Mom Pope. Rowan was reinstated as B-613's command. He incarcerated Mom Pope in an underground dungeon. Harrison figured out Rowan's diabolical plan and his true character. Rowan's man was pointing a gun at Harrison.