We’re *almost* celebrating! STARZ announced a renewal for an eighth and final season of Outlander and has greenlit the highly anticipated Outlander: Blood of My Blood, a prequel series from Matthew B. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, and Maril Davis, who also serve as executive producers of the original series. Do you want to know more?
Here we go!
Outlander: Blood of my Blood is the Future
It’s bittersweet news but, starting with the prequel, Outlander: Blood of My Blood will have ten episodes and will center on the lives and relationship of Jamie Fraser’s parents, Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie.
In the words of Matthew B. Roberts, showrunner and executive producer of the show “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,” he shared.
He continues, “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 know and 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. With Jamie and Claire, and now Brian and Ellen, there is still so much more to come in the Outlander universe, and we cannot wait to continue sharing these stories with our dedicated fans.”
This means that some characters and actors from Outlander will have a place in the prequel. And I like the idea because that will help us identify them and get more into the story, to have more connection with it. Also, as for Outlander, it seems that the intention is not to adapt the whole of Diana Gabaldón‘s books, but we’ll talk about that in a moment.
Outlander Eighth and Final Season Gives Us Bittersweet Feels
As for Outlander, all good things come to an end and, at least, we can say goodbye to our favorite show properly. Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, along with the rest of the cast, are in charge of announcing the news in a thank-you video to the entire fandom.
It’s listening to the bagpipes and my hair stands on end with emotion. Nothing like Scotland, nothing like the opening of the first season. We remember the journey and we go back to the origins. That tastes so bittersweet that it brings tears to my eyes.
Once the emotional moment has passed, let’s talk about Outlander‘s final season. Season 8 of the show will consist of ten episodes, following an extended 16-episode seventh season, which is currently filming in Scotland and will air this summer on STARZ.
In the words of Kathryn Busby, President, of Original Programming for STARZ, “for nearly a decade Outlander has won the hearts of audiences worldwide and we’re pleased to bring Claire and Jamie’s epic love story to a proper conclusion. But before we close this chapter there is plenty of their passionate story to tell throughout 26 new episodes and even more to explore this dynamic world and its origin story. We’re thrilled to continue to partner with Matthew [B. Roberts], Maril [Davis], and Ronald [D. Moore] and can’t wait to see where their alluring storytelling takes us next.”
As for the team behind both series, Outlander showrunner and executive producer Matthew B. Roberts is signed on to write Outlander: Blood of My Blood and will also serve as showrunner and executive producer of the prequel series. In addition to Roberts, Ronald D. Moore will also executive produce the prequel along with Maril Davis.
Moore and Davis developed Outlander for television, under their production banner Tall Ship Productions. Story Mining & Supply Company will also executive produce, and Diana Gabaldon will serve as a consulting producer.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood will be produced by Sony Pictures Television. STARZ’s Executive Vice President, Original Programming, Karen Bailey, will oversee the prequel on behalf of STARZ. Outlander: Blood of My Blood will be available across all STARZ platforms in the U.S. and Canada and on LIONSGATE+ in the UK, Australia, Latin America, and Brazil.
Outlander Final Season May End Unexpectedly
After the announcement of an eighth and final season of Outlander, it’s worth asking if the show will adapt the entire story of Diana Gabaldón, that is, up to book 10 that she is currently writing, or if the story of the series will end before the books can do it.
It all depends on Outlander: Blood of My Blood. STARZ can use the prequel to put Outlander to rest for a while and give Diana space to finish book 10 or get it far enough along that the show can play out exactly as Diana’s book will. Or, on the contrary, the prequel could see the light once Outlander ends.
But if Outlander doesn’t adapt all of Diana’s story, how will it end? Well, book 8 of the series, titled Written in my Own Heart’s Blood, ends with a self-contained ending.
So you see, it all depends on how STARZ plans to use the sequel but, broadly speaking, there are two options regarding the ending of Outlander: they end as book 8 of the series ends or they adapt the story to the end.
From the statements of the cast and crew, everything seems to indicate that the plan is to end the show at the end of book 8. But there is still a long time to go and anything could happen. We will stay tuned to new news!
Outlander season 7 is coming to STARZ this summer.
