The Outlander Prequel: Everything We Know About the Upcoming Starz Series

©Starz! Movie Channel/Courtesy Everett Collection

Get ready! The Outlander prequel, Blood of My Blood, has officially begun production in Scotland, Starz announced in February 2024. But what’s most notable about the news is the series won’t just center on the lives and relationship of Jamie Fraser’s parents, Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser, but will also explore the origin story of Claire’s parents, Julia Moriston and Henry Beauchamp.

According to Starz, the series will focus on the two parallel love stories set in two different time periods, with Jamie’s parents in the early 18th-century Scottish Highlands and Claire’s parents in WWI England. (Hey, if the flagship series can make it work with all that time travel, so can the prequel).

“We’re thrilled to be telling the stories of these two couples,” showrunner, executive producer, and writer Matthew B. Roberts said in a statement. “The origins of their relationships explore universal themes that transcend time periods, and we’re so excited for fans to discover and fall in love with these characters and their love stories the way they have with Claire and Jamie.”

Speaking of those characters, Starz has also announced the actors who will take on the lead roles.

Harriet Slater, best known for Pennyworth and Belgravia: The Next Chapter, will play Jamie’s mom, Ellen MacKenzie, while Jamie Roy, best known for starring in Condor’s Nest and Flowers and Honey, will take on the role of Jamie’s dad, Brian Fraser.

As for Claire’s parents, those roles will be played by Hermione Corfield (The Road Dance) and Jeremy Irvine (War Horse, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again). Corfield will play Claire’s mom, Julia Moriston, and Irvine will play Claire’s dad, Henry Beauchamp.

What’s the latest?

On February 26, 2024, Starz announced the casting of several key roles that fans from Outlander will be very familiar with, including a young Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser. Rory Alexander will play the character, which was originated by Duncan LaCroix. Meanwhile, Sam Retford takes on the role of the headstrong Dougal MacKenzie (originally played by Graham McTavish). Séamus McLean Ross has been cast as his shrewd older brother, Colum MacKenzie, originally played by Gary Lewis. Finally, serving as their faithful advisor and voice of reason is Conor MacNeill as a young Ned Gowan. Bill Paterson played the role in Outlander.

Roberts said in a press release that “we are thrilled to expand our season one cast with some well-known characters from the Outlander universe. We’re so excited to welcome Rory, Sam, Séamus, and Conor to the MacKenzie and Fraser clans and to explore the young journeys of these fan-favorite characters.”

Take a look at the actors playing the roles below.

What else do we know?

Starz announced they had officially greenlit the prequel series, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, on Thursday, January 19, 2023. The news comes comes with the bittersweet (okay, more bitter than sweet) news that Outlander will end after season eight.

Based on Diana Gabaldon’s book series, Outlander follows the epic love story of Claire and Jamie Fraser (Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan), who meet in 1743 Scotland after an English WWII nurse accidentally travels back through time, where she meets the ruggedly handsome soldier. It’s really good, often violent, and very sexy.

Given that time travel and various other magical elements are central to the story, there are plenty of opportunities here for creative storytelling involving characters we’ve already met, though at this point all we can do is speculate as to who will make an appearance.

Here’s everything we know about the upcoming Outlander prequel series:

The ship’s captain will stay aboard, so to speak.

Outlander showrunner and executive producer Roberts will also helm the new series. Ronald D. Moore, who developed the books for TV, will executive-produce along with his partner Maril Davis at Tall Ships Productions. (Moore and Davis developed Outlander for television, under their production banner Tall Ship Productions.) Diana Gabaldon, author of the best-selling Outlander books, will serve as a consulting producer.

What's the plot?

The series will explore the lives of Jamie’s parents, Brian Fraser and Ellen Mackenzie.

Of the new series, Roberts says, “Outlander: Blood of My Blood is, at its heart, a love story. It will explore what lengths a person will go to find love in a time when love is considered a luxury, and when marriages are made strategically, often for political or financial gain. The title is a nod to Jamie Fraser’s marriage vow to Claire and there will be several names and faces that Outlander fans will recognize. Jamie and Claire’s TV story may be coming to an end with season eight, but Diana is continuing on with their literary journey in her wonderful book series and is working diligently on book ten.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood, will consist of 10 episodes in season one. Since production just began, there’s not a teaser trailer available yet, but look for that in the coming months.

What about the original Outlander?

Meanwhile, as Outlander fans anxiously await the remaining eight episodes in season seven, Starz still has not given a specific timeframe for its return, only to say it will be back “later this year.” The 10-episode final season will start production “shortly” in Scotland.

This post will be updated when we know more.

Originally Appeared on Glamour