‘Outlander’ has been renewed by Starz for its 8th and final season

Put on your t-shirt and break out the bagpipes in mourning: “Outlander” is coming to an end. The hit TV series Starz has been renewed for an eighth and final season, the premium cable channel announced on Thursday. The news comes ahead of the series’ 7th season, which will premiere in the summer of 2023.

It’s reportedly unclear whether the show, based on Diana Gabaldon’s historical fantasy romance novel series, will adapt the latest 2021 installment, “Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone.” So far, each season of “Outlander” has adapted roughly one book in the series, with the upcoming seventh season adapting 2009’s “An Echo in the Bone,” and season 8 presumably adapting 2014’s “Written in My Own Heart’s Blood ” is covered. That said, Season 7 will be an extended 16 episodes, while Season 8 will be 10 episodes, so it’s possible that the longer stretch will cover all three books. Gabaldon is said to be planning to wrap up the story of the novels he is currently writing with a 10th installment.

Fortunately for fans of the epic romance series, season 8 will not mark the end of the series’ television universe. Starz officially ordered Blood of my Blood from OG series executive producer Matthew B. Roberts on Thursday. What “prequel” means to “Outlander” — which deals heavily with time travel — is a bit tight-lipped, but we do know that it will consist of 10 episodes and that 18th-century Highlander Jamie Fraser (Sam) focuses on his parents. Heughan), Brian and Ellen.

“Outlander: Blood of My Blood is a love story at its heart. It will explore the lengths to which a person will go to find love in a time when love is considered a luxury and marriages are arranged strategically, often for political or financial gain,” Roberts said in a statement. “The title refers to Jamie Fraser’s wedding vows to Claire, and there will be many names and faces that ‘Outlander’ fans will know and recognize. Jamie and Claire’s TV story may be coming to an end with the eighth season, but Diana continues their literary journey in her wonderful book series and is hard at work on the tenth book. With Jamie and Claire, and now Brian and Ellen, there is so much more to come in the ‘Outlander’ universe, and we look forward to continuing to share these stories with our dedicated fans.”

Outlander also stars Caitríona Balfe as Claire Randall, a 20th century nurse who is transported to the 18th century where she meets, falls in love with and eventually marries Jamie. The show follows the two’s relationship and the historical events of the era, such as the Jacobite uprising, before more time travel gimmicks leading them to jump through history.

Released in 2009, “An Echo in the Bone” focuses on two storylines, Jamie and Claire living in 18th century America during the Revolutionary War, while their daughter Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and her husband Roger (Richard Rankin) adjust to life. century after being transported back in time. Several new cast members joined the series for season seven, including Rod Hallett as real-life US soldier and infamous traitor Benedict Arnold, Gloria Obianyo, Chris Fulton, Charles Vandervaart, Izzy Meikle-Small and Joey Phillips.

In addition, two new actors will play two characters already seen in the series: Kristin Atherton will play Jenny Murray, previously played by Laura Donnelly; while Diarmaid Murtagh takes over the role of Buck MacKenzie, son of Graham McTavish Dougal MacKenzie. McTavish actually played Buck in Season 5; He returns to the role of Dougal this season alongside John Bell, David Berry, Caitlin O’Ryan, Paul Gorman, Nell Hudson, Steven Cree, Andrew Whipp, Layle Burns and Lotte Verbeek.

Ronald D. Moore developed “Outlander” for television; executive produced by Roberts, Maril Davis, Toni Graphia, Luke Schelhaas, Andy Harries and Jim Kohlberg and stars Balfe and Heughan. The series is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Left Bank Pictures and Story Mining & Supply Company in association with Sony Pictures Television. Both Moore and Davis will executive produce Blood of my Blood.

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