Outlander season 8: Release date speculation and latest news

As a die-hard fan of Outlander who has eagerly followed the time-traveling escapades of Claire and Jamie since the very beginning, I can hardly contain my excitement about the upcoming eighth season. With a life filled with countless rereads of Diana Gabaldon’s books, endless discussions with fellow fans, and an unhealthy obsession with Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, I feel uniquely qualified to offer my perspective on this much-anticipated finale.


As I eagerly anticipate the fresh waves of Outlander episodes, my mind can’t help but ponder on the ways their storyline might conclude for the Fraser family.

In the second half of Season 7, the continuation is now available for streaming, featuring a new chapter filled with weekly episodes that promise an exciting voyage as Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire (Caitríona Balfe), accompanied by Young Ian (John Bell), depart the colonies en route to Scotland. However, since the Revolutionary War continues unabated, significant choices are on the horizon for all characters involved.

Certainly, there’s a continuing storyline involving the abduction of young Jemmy by Rob Cameron (played by Chris Fulton). In response, Roger (portrayed by Richard Rankin) embarks on a journey to find his missing son, using the stones as his means of travel.

Fans will tune into the upcoming episodes of Outlander with a mix of joy and melancholy since this is one of the last shows, and the eighth season has been confirmed to be its grand finale.

Now that filming for the last season has come to an end, when can we expect Outlander season 8 to air? Here’s what we know about its release schedule so far.

Outlander season 8 release date speculation

A release date for Outlander season 8 has not been confirmed just yet.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that filming for the final season has come to an end, with leading actor Sam Heughan expressing heartfelt farewells after his extended tenure on the show. Posting a series of backstage photos from the last eight seasons, Heughan penned: “11 Years. 8 seasons. 101 Episodes @outlander_starz. What an adventure! So many cherished moments, remarkable individuals I’ve had the pleasure to collaborate with and now consider friends.

Yet, we are aware that fans typically experience a gap called ‘Droughtlander’, which could extend from the conclusion of season 7 to the beginning of season 8. Additionally, it remains uncertain if the last season will mirror season 7 by being divided into two parts.

It was confirmed in January 2023 that Outlander would conclude with its eighth season, and simultaneously, a spin-off series titled Blood of my Blood was scheduled for release as well.

In response to the news about the conclusion of Outlander, Kathryn Busby, head of original programming at Starz, expressed her satisfaction, stating: “For almost a decade, Outlander has captured the hearts of global audiences, and we’re happy to conclude Claire and Jamie’s extraordinary love story in a fitting manner.

Before we wrap up this tale, there’s a lot more of their captivating narrative to unfold across 26 additional episodes. This engrossing world and its origins have much more to offer, and we’re excited to keep collaborating with showrunner Matthew Roberts, along with Maril Davis and Ronald Moore. We can hardly wait to follow where their spellbinding storytelling leads us next!

Who will star in Outlander season 8?

We can’t definitively predict which characters will show up in Outlander season 8, given that season 7 is still ongoing. But it’s likely that the main characters will return for the last installment.

We would expect the following cast members to return for Outlander season 8.

  • Caitríona Balfe as Claire Randall Fraser
  • Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser
  • Richard Rankin as Roger Wakefield MacKenzie
  • Sophie Skelton as Brianna Randall Fraser MacKenzie
  • John Bell as Young Ian Murray
  • David Berry as Lord John Grey
  • Charles Vandervaart as William Ransom
  • Izzy Meikle-Small as Rachel Hunter
  • Joey Phillips as Dr Denzell Hunter

It has also been confirmed that season 8 will mark the introduction of some new characters.

It has been revealed that Kieran Brew (from House of the Dragon) is set to take on the role of Captain Charles Cunningham, a former British soldier; Frances Tomelty (known for Catastrophe) will be seen as his mother Elspeth Cunningham; and Carla Woodcock (familiar from Such Brave Girls) will act as Amaranthus Grey, a fresh addition to the Grey family.

What will Outlander season 8 be about?

It’s challenging to predict the storyline for the last season of Outlander, as we are yet to complete season 7. Additionally, this uncertainty is heightened because author Diana Gabaldon was still penning her tenth and final Outlander book while the production of season 8 was underway.

They’ve had some discussions with Diana. When we finally decide on the real conclusion (which isn’t set in stone just yet), I believe we’ll consult her to ensure she approves of it.

She further mentioned: “I’ve inquired about our plans to ensure Diana is comfortable. We don’t wish to offend her in any way, as she has been exceptionally gracious and supportive of this project, expressing great joy over its success. Our aim is to honor her and do her books proud.

Additionally, she has this unique trait where she considers the books as her own possession, while viewing the show as a separate entity. I adore this quality of hers because it empowers her – and us – to take creative liberties, to take chances, and to approach things in a fresh way.

Davis mentioned: “We’ll certainly consult with her, as it must be adjusted given that she’s wrapping things up and hasn’t decided on the specifics yet – what exactly that entails – and we’re planning to wrap up the TV series. I’m looking forward to it, but there are a few surprises in store for us.

Lately, Gabaldon herself has cautioned viewers not to anticipate a final season mirroring her last book. In other words, she hinted that the show’s ending will significantly differ from the conclusion of the book series.

As we move into Season 8, the creators are faced with a challenge: they have fewer episodes (only ten, unlike the sixteen in Season One) to work with, yet they have material from three entire books to fit into this limited time frame. At the end of Season 7, the story roughly picks up where “A Dance with Dragons” leaves off, leaving “The Winds of Winter,” “The Bones of Aenarion,” and “A Time for Wolves” largely unexplored.

In typical scenarios, they manage to incorporate around 10% of a book’s content into the series per season. Considering that the three books in question have approximately 1,200,000 words combined, roughly how much of this material do you estimate could be covered in just ten hours of television?

It’s clear they will need to select the best moments or storylines to capture on camera, arrange them in a way that fits within one season, and aim to end it in a way that feels mostly complete.

Is there a trailer for Outlander season 8?

Not yet! Seeing as season 7 part 2 is just about to premiere, there’s no trailer or teasers for season 8 just yet. Watch this space!

Read More

2024-11-23 13:05