As we get closer to the "Scandal" season 3 premiere date ABC has decided to tease fans with the release of a new poster featuring Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington).

In the poster released via Twitter on Tuesday you see the head of our favorite Washington gladiator looking as if she needs some damage control with the upcoming scandal that she is about to face.

In the poster that features the caption, "The secret is out," Washington can be seen looking hopeless, and we would too considering how things ended last season.

[Check out the "Scandal" season 3 poster by clicking HERE]

In the season finale of season 2 Olivia's secret of being President Fitz's mistress was exposed and fans were left with so many questions about her future, especially since the mystery man who seemed to want her out of the picture turned out to be her father.

Co-Executive Producer/Director Tom Verica let it slip that fans should prepare for a flashback episode, he said, "People love flashbacks on the show and it's such a mechanism that really works."

He revealed, "Just by shear nature of meeting her father, we'll dive into her past."

Even though Verica said that "Scandal" season 3 episode 1 would "literally takes off minutes after where we left off," would you be disappointed if it turned into a flashback episode?

I guess we will find out together when the ABC hit series returns on October 3rd. Check out the poster above and let us know what you think.