Outlander: Blood Of My Blood - What We Know So Far

They say that long-distance relationships can be tricky, but those who said that probably didn't consider time travel. "Outlander" is a popular show on Starz that was inspired by the book series by Diana Gabaldon and primarily focuses on Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), later becoming Claire Fraser after marrying Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). Claire is a nurse in the British Army that served during the events of World War II and is transported back in time to 1743, during the early days of the Jacobite Revolution, through a mysterious set of cairn stones. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, Claire knows how history is supposed to turn out, and even though she and Jamie attempt to change things for the better, the correct course of history marches on.

TV Insider notes how "Outlander" became a runaway success for Starz, which beyond the usual fanfare that surrounds a popular show, has caused an uptick in tourism to Scotland, referred to as "The Outlander Effect." Considering how successful "Outlander" has been, it would make sense why Starz has ordered a new spin-off series based on the show, but what do we know so far about this upcoming project?

Although details are still relatively sparse at this point, it looks like "Outlander: Blood of My Blood" will be a prequel story that follows Jamie Fraser's parents. In February 2022, Variety reported that Starz was working on spin-off series that aimed to fill in the history leading to the events of "Outlander." Around the same time, author Diana Gabaldon posted on Facebook that she was working on a prequel book herself that was about Jamie's parents and shared a single line from the then in-progress book, which said, "Ellen MacKenzie, eldest of the children of Jacob Ruadh MacKenzie, chief of Clan MacKenzie—well, the late chief, if only by moments, but she'd think about that later—grabbed Ailidh Watt from behind and dragged her out of sight, clapping a hand over her slobbering mouth to stifle her cries."

Judging by this line and the details emerging from "Outlander: Blood of My Blood," we know this prequel series will follow Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser. Knowing that Jamie Fraser is part of the Jacobite Uprising from the early seasons of "Outlander" gives us a small picture as to whom his parents might have been and what viewers may come to expect, providing further insight into explaining the "Outlander" timeline. The story of Ellen and Brian will be chock full of historical significance, and audiences may get a chance to see a young version of Jamie.

Unfortunately, besides knowing who the main characters are in "Outlander: Blood of My Blood," there has been no confirmation who will be playing the parents of Jamie Fraser, nor any word about supporting actors and characters. The show is still in the earliest stages of development, and according to Backstage, the casting process can take time, usually involving a back-and-forth with prospective actors. 

From there, the would-be actors go through a "table read" and, ultimately, a pilot episode to see if all of the pieces fit together. Considering the success of "Outlander," either the cast will be quickly filled out as Starz rushes the television series to production, or inversely, it could take longer than usual because the showrunners want to ensure everything is perfect. Either way, all eyes are on future announcements related to "Outlander: Blood of My Blood."

Much like the casting information, a definitive release date for "Outlander: Blood of My Blood" is probably far on the horizon. Considering that we have just received confirmation of the spin-off series being ordered by Starz, it will be some time before we have a premiere date. As noted by The Knowledge Burrow, broadcast television series comprising 20 episodes usually take nine to ten months to film and additional time for editing and post-production.

Episode count in seasons of "Outlander" has varied, and since Starz is a premium channel, the above timetables may be slightly different. However, an educated guess would put the premiere of "Outlander: Blood of My Blood" sometime in the two to three-year range, but that is simply an assumption based on the typical turnaround. Maybe Starz will surprise us, and we'll get a chance to see this new spin-off show sooner rather than later.

One of the few puzzle pieces we do know about the upcoming "Outlander: Blood of My Blood" show is who the writer and producers of the spin-off will be. Matthew B. Roberts has been tapped to be the writer, and his previous experiences as executive producer and showrunner of "Outlander" will aid in this endeavor. Ronald D. Moore and Maril Davis will serve as executive producers, both having served in that capacity with the original series. This means the talent that helped to make "Outlander" such a hit will be returning for "Blood of My Blood," a welcome sign to longtime fans of the series.

Speaking with Variety, Starz president of original programming Kathryn Busby expressed excitement about expanding the world of "Outlander" by saying, "'Outlander' is a riveting show that from season to season has captured the hearts of its fans around the world. We are excited to peel back the layers of this vibrant world to bring our audience the origin of where it all began. Matthew, Maril, and Ronald will continue to bring their excellent vision and creativity to this new iteration, and we can't wait to see what happens next." Indeed, fans can't wait for the spin-off and another season of its parent show, with some fans of "Outlander" wanting to see a surprising facet in future seasons. Ultimately, it seems as if "Outlander: Blood of My Blood" wants to double down on what has previously worked on its predecessor show. Hopefully, it will be a worthy addition to the growing "Outlander" franchise.