Outlander: Blood of My Blood Showrunners Reveal Who is No 1 on the Call Sheet

“Outlander” fans, rejoice—your return ticket to the Highlands has finally arrived. Starz’s long-awaited prequel, “Outlander: Blood of My Blood,” will premiere on August 8 and promises to dive deep into the ancestral love stories that shaped Jamie Fraser and Claire Beauchamp. Told across two time periods and two continents, the 10-episode season will chronicle not just one but two epic romances: those of Jamie’s parents, Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser, and Claire’s parents, Julia Moriston and Henry Beauchamp.

After years of the main series shifting its setting to the American colonies, showrunner Matthew B. Roberts and executive producer Maril Davis are ready to bring the story back to its roots—literally and figuratively. In a recent Entertainment Weekly interview, the duo revealed their emotional return to Scotland and the thematic depth behind the series’ new chapter.

Showrunners Promise a Return to the Heart of ‘Outlander’

“We had a little saying: Scotland should be number one on the call sheet,” Roberts told EW. “We try to show the beauty, how it gets into your blood and is in the blood of the characters. There’s probably a few double entendres with “Blood of My Blood.” It’s not just about the characters—it’s what Scotland does to you.”

Davis echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the emotional payoff of returning to familiar settings like Castle Leoch. “Coming back to this, getting back to our origins and our roots is so exciting,” she said. The new series draws on “Outlander’s” signature themes—fate, destiny, and time-defying love—while offering a fresh perspective through two intertwined family histories.

Originally, Roberts envisioned the prequel as a story solely about Jamie’s parents. But after realizing there wasn’t enough material to build a full series, he expanded the scope to include Claire’s parents—characters barely mentioned in Diana Gabaldon’s novels. “It does feel like you’re missing a big piece of the puzzle if you’re not telling her parents’ story as well,” Davis said. The creative team also planted “small nods” throughout the series—moments that hint at the traits Jamie and Claire inherited from their parents, providing a new layer for longtime fans.

Everything We Know About ‘Blood of My Blood’: Cast, Plot, and Premiere Details

“Outlander: Blood of My Blood” will follow dual timelines—18th-century Scotland and World War I-era England—exploring how these two great love stories shaped the iconic leads of the original series. Jamie Roy and Harriet Slater will play Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie, while Jeremy Irvine and Hermione Corfield portray Henry Beauchamp and Julia Moriston.

Several fan-favorite characters will return in younger form. Rory Alexander steps in as a young Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser, Sam Retford plays Dougal MacKenzie, and Séamus McLean Ross portrays a young Colum MacKenzie. Conor MacNeil joins as Ned Gowan. These fresh faces join the clans that orbit around the central romances, including Sara Vickers as Jamie Fraser’s grandmother, Davina Porter.

Production began in early 2024 in Scotland and wrapped before Outlander completed filming its eighth and final season. The first-look photos, shared by EW, give fans a glimpse into the lush period settings, swoon-worthy costumes, and intense emotional stakes that the series has built its legacy on.

Tragically, Brian McCardie, cast as Clan Grant leader Isaac Grant, passed away in April. Starz has not confirmed whether he completed filming or if the role will be recast.

With ten episodes and a fresh infusion of Highland magic, “Blood of My Blood” is poised to captivate both longtime Sassenachs and new viewers. As Davis put it best, “Jamie and Claire aren’t the only couple who are destined to be together.”

Tell us! Will you be tuning in to watch the love stories of Jamie and Claire’s parents when “Outlander: Blood of My Blood” premieres this summer? Let us know in the comments below.