“Scandal” is one of ABC’s most popular dramas, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t an end in sight for Olivia Pope and her gladiators. Showrunner Shonda Rhimes recently opened up about where she sees the hit series concluding – and fans might be surprised at what she revealed.

“I’ve already decided when ‘Scandal’ is ending,” Rhimes told The Hollywood Reporter. “I think there’s only so much ‘Scandal’ you can tell satisfactorily. The Fitz-Liv thing can only be told so long and in such a way.”

While “Scandal” fans will blindly follow the brilliant showrunner, viewers will have to agree to disagree with her on this one. Season 3 was the most dramatic and deadly to date, and left audiences desperate for more. Olivia not only abandoned Fitz during his time of need, but left Pope and Associates without telling any of her staff members. The final moments showed the fixer jetting off with Jake at her side as Fitz crumbled from his reelection that cost him his son.

Rhimes teased that the events of Season 3 essentially set up a clean slate for the characters; which means that Olivia and Fitz shippers can still hold onto that hope for a reunion. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that their love story will be dragged out past Fitz’s presidency.

“It would be interesting,” she said to The Hollywood Reporter of Fitz’s plans post White House. But in terms of his term being the end of the series, she stated that, “I’ve given myself a parameter of what that is, and whether or not that means we end up deciding to stretch or shrink his presidency based on that remains to be seen.”

“It’s not a 10-season or eight-season show,” Rhimes confirmed. “ I’ve already decided how long that is and what that’s going to be. I’m not really worried about that.”

Season 4 of “Scandal” will premiere on ABC on Thursday, September 25, at 9 p.m. ET. How long would you like “Scandal” to run? Tweet your thoughts to @AmandaTVScoop.

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