Outlander Season 8: What a dilemma for the World War II nurse, Claire Randall! The lady wants to return to the present time but cannot leave her lover behind. Indeed! Many of you might have already guessed we are talking about Outlander. It is a must-watch for fans of historical dramas. Moreover, Outlander proved to be one of the most successful moves for the Starz network. The drama series has eventually provided a classy identity to the platform. But the moment when the seventh season saw its ending, fans’ curiosity knew no limitations. They are pretty peculiar about how the story will proceed. But for that, a new season needs to see the light of day. So, is Outlander Season 8 in talks? Will Claire and Jamie have favorable events in their fate? Read to know!
Created by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander is a historical drama that revolves around Claire Randall, a nurse. She served in the Second World War as a military nurse and eventually discovers herself to be a time traveler. Further, after being transported to 1743, she falls for a warrior Jamie Fraser. Moreover, the series debuted on August 9, 2014. So far, the fantasy drama has sparked seven installments, and all of them have been huge blockbusters on Starz.
What Is The Status of Outlander Season 8? Did The Production Begin?
Outlander is a perfect blend of history and fantasy. At the same time, creator Ronald D. Moore has wisely inculcated drama, adventure, and romance in the story. So, going by the fans’ demands, they cannot imagine the story ending abruptly. Currently, the series is known to have held the expectations of many. In such a case, any unfavorable decision can lead to collective heartbreaks. But, thankfully, it won’t happen with Outlander, at least for now.
Outlander has already been greenlit for season 8 and hence, will return to the screens very soon. But there’s a twist! According to the official statements made by Starz, the drama will apparently end with the eighth installment. Therefore, the Outlander story will be wrapped up in the upcoming chapter. It eventually means that the drama will reach its conclusion even before Gabaldon’s novel as she is still writing them. For the unknown, the Starz historical drama is the adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s novel of the same name. As far as its production is concerned, Outlander Season 8 is yet to enter the production process. But, it is expected to start its filming soon.
According to Digital Spy, the forthcoming installment is currently on hold. Outlander actress Caitriona Balfe confirmed that Outlander Season 8 will be delayed. The reason behind the unexpected circumstance is the ongoing strike by The Writers Guild of America. This has hampered the Hollywood industry, and no scripting work will be done. Although most of the filming is done in Scotland, Balfe confirmed Outlander to have been affected by the strike. The actress also referred to the idea of rolling the cameras as ‘bittersweet.’
Outlander Prequel Is On Its Way!
On the other hand, if you are already disappointed by the network’s decision to end Outlander with the eighth season, here’s some good news for you. Starz did not only renew the drama but also provided a green light to its prequel. Titled Outlander: Blood Of My Blood was earlier reported to be in the works but was not confirmed. In August 2022, makers revealed the prequel title, and in January this year, Starz ordered ten episodes for the pilot season. As per the sources, Blood Of My Blood has Maril Davis and Matthew B. Roberts as the executive producer, with the latter also writing the story. The prequel will focus on the parents of Jamie Fraser, and thus the family saga lives on.
Talking about Outlander: Blood Of My Blood, Roberts commented that the prequel has a love story. It will explore the efforts a person can make to find his love. He said that with Jamie and Claire, and now Brian and Ellen, Outlander still has much more to explore. Matthew mentioned his excitement about sharing the stories in the coming time through the episodes to his fans.
What Will Happen In Outlander Season 8?
There are no exact details related to the story of the upcoming chapter. But Gabaldon did give an initial idea about it. She has revealed that Outlander Season 8 will focus on the events narrated in her ninth book titled, “Go Tell The Bees That I’m Gone.” The book shows Claire and Jamie’s relationship to see more hardships due to American Revolutionary War. It can also affect their families and tear them apart. Well, things will receive clarity following the release of an official trailer for Outlander Season 8. Whatever the case in the forthcoming chapter, it is going to be a mega season.
Why Is Outlander Ending With Season 8?
An exact reason behind why Outlander is being finalized with season 8 is not available. But according to Maril Davis, the team will have to wait for Diana to complete her work on book 10 so that the episodes can catch up with the chapters. It is quite possible for the crew members to halt their production for years so that future books can be finished accordingly. In addition to this, some of the cast members are willing to explore new creative opportunities other than Outlander.
Who Will Return In The Next Season?
Starz has already confirmed Outlander Season 8 to witness more drama and romance in Claire and Jamie Fraser’s life. This eventually confirms the return of Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan to their respective roles. In addition to them, the chances for Richard Rankin and Sophie Skelton to join the cast as Roger MacKenzie and Brianna Fraser MacKenzie. They are expected to play a pivotal role in Outlander Season 8. In addition to them, we might witness John Bell as Ian Fraser, Lauren Lyle as Marsali MacKimmie Fraser, and César Domboy as Fergus Claudel Fraser.
The other stars who are likely to make an appearance include Maria Doyle Kennedy and Charles Vandervaart. If they return, they will step in the shoes of Jocasta MacKenzie Cameron and William Ransom, accordingly. More details on the cast are expected to be out in the upcoming months. As soon as the filming begins, the official team might drop some pictures from the sets confirming a few cast members.
Outlander Season 8: Release Date
According to the statement made by actress Balfe, they were about to start the shooting for Outlander Season 8. But the production was delayed when The Writers Guild of America went on strike. Now, it will take some time to begin filming. If it starts by the year’s end, we can expect Outlander Season 8 to release in the last quarter of 2024. But if it is pushed further, fans should give up on their expectation of having the new batch of episodes in the next year. However, the chances for it to release are quite safer around 2025 or 2026. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section. Keep coming back to TECH RADAR 247 for more updates!