In anticipation of the premiere of season 3 of Scandal, ABC has released the cast photos for the show's "gladiator" fans.

The pictures feature the cast in a group photo where they are posed indoors, while they're posed in the rain in their individual portraits.

The photo shoot's concept suggest the series' characters will weather many storms in light of the leak of the affair between Kerry Washington's Olivia Pope and Tony Goldwyn's POTUS. The big reveal played out during the season 2 finale.

The image of all the cast members together in a single room shows it is littered with bundles of newspapers. The headlines (Mistress! Liar! Hero! Criminal!) allude to the media coverage of Pope's affair with "Fitz." POTUS is gazing at Pope, Harrison looks away from everyone as Cyrus, White House Chief of Staff also has his eye on Pope. David Rosen appears to have no care in the world-- he is reading Esquire magazine.

In a 31-second preview trailer for the premiere episode of season 1, Pope tells Fitz that now that their affair has been leaked to the media, they need use to their crisis management skills to make it go away.

"My name is out there, we need to make a plan," she tells POTUS.

The teaser then shows an unidentified woman confessing to being the leak: "I'm airing her laundry, and I want to share it with the world."

Olivia re-appears and confronts the person responsible for the leak. The crisis manager barges into a meeting with several people in the room. She faces a brunette whose back is facing the camera and yells, "What did you do?"

Jeff Perry, who plays Cyrus, the crooked White House Chief of Staff, said in a recent interview that the first few episodes of season 3 will focus on who leaked POTUS and Pope's secret affair.

"These first couple of episodes back are all about the drama. Olivia has been outed by someone," Perrytold E! News. "How did this leak? Who leaked it? Who sent it? Is it possible anyone will actually admit to it? If they do, what will that mean?" he asked referring to the as-yet-revealed story lines.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed on Aug. 28 actress Lisa Kudrow, will have a recurring guest role on the Emmy-nominated ABC series. It is her biggest role to date since her 10-season run on the hit '90s show Friends. The Hollywood Reporter shared in an earlier report that Dead Like Me actress Cynthia Stevenson will also appear during season 3. Stevenson will play a client in need of Olivia Pope's services. She turns to Pope & Associates to cover up a scheme but the plot has yet to be revealed. Stevenson has appeared in Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes' other dramas including Grey's Anatomy, Off The Map and Private Practice.

ABC's Scandal season 3 premieres on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 10 p.m. EST/8 Central.

Watch the short preview for Scandal season 3's premiere episode here.