“Outlander” fans the world over have been suffering through what they affectionately call their “Droughtlander” ever since the Season 2 finale of the fantasy/romance drama series aired to great acclaim last July. With the new season set to premiere in September 2017, take a look at everything we know about “Outlander” Season 3 in our photo gallery above.
-By Rob Licuria
By the end of Season 2, we learned that Jamie and his army had fought at the Battle of Culloden, and Claire had realized that Jamie had survived the bloody battle. But as the events of the season finale “Dragonfly in Amber” took place in 1960s Scotland, we didn’t get to see the final climactic battle and its aftermath. The Season 3 premiere promises to address this, by taking us back to the moors to witness the battle in all of its bloody glory.
Australian actor David Berry (“A Place to Call Home”) has been cast to play Lord John William Grey, governor of Ardsmuir Prison where Jamie is interred for part of the season and who befriends our leading man. According to the network’s official description, Lord John William Grey is a boyishly handsome, honorable, upper class British gentleman. However, a scandal from the Lord’s past has consigned him to the dark depths of a Northern Scotland backwater as governor of Ardsmuir Prison.
As all diehard fans know, the “Outlander” series of books span a vast time period, and Season 3 in particular will see the story jump ahead in time. That means some of our beloved characters will appear older than they have for most of the series to date. Hmm, what might old Jamie look like?
Frank fans, we’ll be seeing a lot more of Claire’s present-day husband (Tobias Menzies) this year. Author Diana Gabaldon confirms, “They’ve expanded that end of the story a little bit, but they’ve done it well, very consistently.”
Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe have not had many scenes together so far while filming Season 3. Heughan was recently quoted in a recent interview with Vanity Fair as saying that the feeling for much of the production thus far this season has been like “a death in the family.” Balfe recently remarked in a separate interview with Vanity Fair, “I definitely miss him.” Thematically, as the star-crossed lovers are separated by time and space, this upcoming season will feature an overall sense of longing and sadness, as Heughan also confirms that “Jamie’s present, living in his world, and Claire’s present and living in her world, and they both believe the other is dead.”
At the dramatic end of “Dragonfly in Amber” (the Season 2 finale), Claire realizes that Jamie must have miraculously survived the Battle of Culloden. But the question of when they reunite remains a mystery. In a recent Twitter Q&A with fans, “Outlander” creator and executive producer Ronald D. Moore confirmed that Jamie and Claire will ultimately be reunited onscreen during the season after 20 years of grief-stricken loneliness and longing. So expect a heart-wrenching reunion at some point during the season as pay-off of Claire’s moment of truth that closed out the second season. And without saying anything further, true fans will know that this much-anticipated reunion should hopefully take place in a print shop.
Creator and executive producer Ronald D. Moore and production designer Jon Gary Steele recently revealed to Gold Derby that one of the most exciting parts of the third season will be the many scenes filmed at sea. Much of the story shifts from the Highlands of Scotland across the Atlantic to Jamaica in the Caribbean, and that will involve dazzling special effects and more of the gorgeously rendered production design by Emmy-nominated Steele and his team as the tall ship voyages are brought to life. The cast and crew will also be filming in South Africa, which will stand in for Jamaica on the show.
As many fans know, the jump in time means characters age next season, and this is most apparent with Fergus, played in Season 2 by Romann Berrux. Next season, Frenchman Cesar Domboy (“The Borgias”) has been re-cast to play the beloved character. According to Starz’s official description, Fergus has grown up into a charming, devilishly handsome man. He is the ultimate romantic, wearing his heart on his sleeve and falling in and out of love easily. Fergus remains steadfastly devoted to Jamie and is an integral part of the Fraser clan.
Brit actor John Bell (“The Hobbit”) has been cast as Young Ian Murray. According to the network’s official description, Young Ian is a tall, gangly Scottish lad bursting with charm who looks up to his uncle Jamie Fraser back in 18th century Scotland.
Marsali is one of a number of new characters introduced next season, and it has been confirmed that British newcomer Lauren Lyle has been cast to play her. Marsali is the daughter of Laoghaire (Nell Hudson), and according to Starz’s official description, she has a rebellious and romantic mind of her own and she knows what she wants and she goes after it.
We know that Season 3 will shift back and forth between time periods. One of the new characters introduced in the 20th century timeframe is Joe Abernathy, with actor Wil Johnson (“Waking the Dead”) cast to play him. According to the network’s official description, he is an intelligent and charismatic fellow medical practitioner, who becomes Claire’s loyal confidante.
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