The Shonda Rhimes connected universe is finally becoming a reality.
ABC announced on Wednesday, Jan. 3, that Scandal will crossover with How To Get Away With Murder this year. An air date has not been set as of this writing, but Kerry Washington and Viola Davis are expected to appear in each other's respective shows.
Shondaland
Rhimes, who serves as the executive producer for both shows, shared a sneak peek into the first meeting between her heroines, Olivia Pope (Washington) and Annalise Keating (Davis). On a tweet, she teased the anticipated crossover event.
People. It's happening. @petenowalk, you ready for this? #TGITCrossover #HowtoGetAwaywithScandal pic.twitter.com/laROhxbeu8
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) January 3, 2018
The Scandal episode was written by Raamla Mohamed and directed by Tony Goldwyn (the same actor who plays the role of former president, Fitzgerald Grant). Meanwhile, the How To Get Away With Murder episode was written by Morenike Balogun and Sarah L. Thompson and directed by Zetna Fuentes.
On social media, Washington shared a photo of herself as Liv Pope on the set of How To Get Away With Murder. Davis answered with her own photo of Annalise Keating on the set of Scandal.
Hey Ms @violadavis check it out. This spot look familiar?! Where are you? https://t.co/JFdiCTmbFs pic.twitter.com/OcLdXtS9Nz
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) January 3, 2018
Hey @KerryWashington, guess where I am?! pic.twitter.com/WKKJzrQcJx
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) January 3, 2018
This is the first (and, perhaps, last) crossover between the two shows. Scandal is currently on its seventh and final season. While How To Get Away With Murder is on its fourth season and has not been canceled yet, the drama has been seeing a steep decline in viewership.
Both, however, have assembled a fiercely loyal and vocal following over the years.
Variety adds that the crossover will begin on an episode of Scandal Season seven and end with an episode of How To Get Away With Murder Season four which will air immediately after.
The move comes on the heels of crossover events happening on other networks that have successfully raked higher ratings. The CW annually brings together its superheroes Supergirl, The Flash, Green Arrow, and the Legends of Tomorrow for a DC Comics TV event. NBC has also aired a successful crossover between Law & Order: SVU and Chicago P.D.
Unresolved Plot Holes
However, The Hollywood Reporter notes that How To Get Away With Murder creator, Pete Nowalk, was initially opposed to the idea of a crossover to Scandal. He did not think that Olivia and Annalise exist in the same universe particularly.
"I'll never say never because you can't, but I never think there will be a crossover," he stated. He cited that Liza Weil, who played the role of Amanda Tanner on Scandal is also on How To Get Away With Murder as Bonnie Winterbottom.
Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder, and Grey's Anatomy will return from their mid-season breaks on Jan. 18 on ABC.
