Jake Ballard (Scott Foley) and Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) will have an entirely different kind of relationship in “Scandal” Season 7.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Foley said that Jake will continue to be the head of the NSA. But since Olivia is now Mellie Grant’s (Bellamy Young) chief of staff, Jake’s ex-girlfriend is now his boss. “The interesting thing for Jake is that he’s still the head of the NSA, but Olivia being chief of staff is sort of his boss, which is a position they’ve never really find themselves in and a dynamic we have yet to explore. It’s going to cause some waves in the water of love,” he said.

Read: “Scandal” Season 7 official poster teases Olivia Pope’s fate at the White House

Additionally, Jake will also be sidelined from his role at the White House since Cyrus Beene (Jeff Perry) is now the vice president of the United States. In Season 6, Jake was one of those who tried to convict Cyrus of a crime that he did not directly commit. Jake also ran for vice presidency alongside Mellie, but she later on chose to work with Cyrus, who ran as Governor Vargas’ (Ricardo Chavira) vice president.

Meanwhile, “Scandal” star Darby Stanchfield also shared some information about her character, Abby Whelan, while at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. Last season, Abby left the White House and returned to Olivia Pope and Associates (OPA). Since their former leader, Olivia, is now working with B613, Abby will become the new leader of the group.

Quinn (Katie Lowes) is also pregnant with her and Charlie’s (George Newbern) baby, so it will be difficult for her to engage in physically-draining missions. “Everything in the show is completely new and re-established,” Stanchfield told TV Guide.

Additionally, there are rumors that Abby, Quinn and Huck (Guillermo Diaz) will be working closely with two new male characters. Jay Hernandez and Shaun Toub have just been cast by ABC in secret recurring roles. On the other hand, OPA’s missions may also center on Hernandez’s and Toub’s characters as their newest clients.

“Scandal” Season 7, episode 1 will air on ABC on Oct. 5 at 9 p.m. EST.

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