The season was produced by ABC Studios, in association with ShondaLand Production Company; the showrunner being Shonda Rhimes.

like the previous season, as it was moved to the timeslot to make room for ShondaLand Production Company's new TV series, How to Get Away with Murder.

Production began on May 21, 2015, when Rhimes announced on Twitter that the writers were in full swing mapping the fifth season.

[9] The title of the season premiere, "Heavy is the Head" was revealed on August 8, 2015, by its director Tom Verica on Twitter.

Kerry Washington continued to play her role as protagonist of the series, Olivia Pope, a former White House Director of Communications with her own crisis management firm.

Jeff Perry continued to portray Cyrus Beene, chief of staff at the White House who was fired by Fitz but later rehired.

Bellamy Young continued to act as First Lady/Senator Melody "Mellie" Grant, who was kicked out of the White House by Fitz, and later joined the presidential campaign for president.

On May 14, 2015, after the fourth-season finale, it was announced that Portia de Rossi had been promoted to a series regular for the fifth season.

[13] TVLine reported in late April that a new gladiator would be added to Olivia Pope & Associates, and the person would be a guest star.

The website's consensus reads, "Increased pressure on a key couple brings heightened stakes and more exciting twists to Scandal's action-packed, consistently gripping fifth season.