Scandal season 7 spoilers: George Newbern promoted to regular

George Newbern

When Scandal season 7 does premiere on ABC for its final season, there is one thing that will be different: George Newbern’s status.

Per TVLine, the longtime recurring player on the show is being promoted to a series regular for the seventh and final season in the role of Charlie, the former B613 operator who became overtime a part of the OPA operation. He also just so happens to be romantically intertwined with Quinn. The two are currently engaged to be married, but there is no guarantee of it happening given that there are some feelings still there between her and Huck.

This promotional may have been allotted in part after the decision from Portia de Rossi to leave the show earlier this season. That meant there was another spot in the main cast, and promoting a longtime recurring player to a regular at the end of the road is a move that several other series have done over time. Look at True Blood for one prime example of that. It honors someone who’s been a big part of the universe, for a long time, and it also guarantees that they will be around.

In reading some of the typical tea leaves that do go long with this sort of promotion, this shouldn’t be read as some sort of confirmation that Newbern is going to be in every episode of the upcoming season; yet, he will be a significant part of the season, which makes some sense given how many people he’s tied to at this particular moment in time. Quinn is the most important contact, but things between he and Huck could get testy. Plus, if he turns he could become an enemy again for much of the cast.

This news is coming mere days before the finale airs on ABC, and you have to think that with that, further news will be released in the moments following the big episode. (The main focus of the finale seems to be on both cementing the legacy of Fitz as President, and then also moving forward to what Mellie could do in the role.)

What do you think about this new promotion? Excited about what could be coming on Scandal season 7? Sound off in the comments!

Meanwhile, head over here to secure some additional news when it comes to Scandal, including some more teases from the upcoming finale! (Photo: ABC.)

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