Outlander star Sam Heughan gives update on upcoming prequel series

He plays Jamie Fraser on the show

Author: Hazel ScottPublished 21st Jun 2022
Last updated 22nd Jun 2022

Popular show Outlander has given us six series of time-travelling fantasy so far, with filming for a seventh season underway. If that wasn't enough to get excited about, a prequel series is also in the works, which Sam Heughan has shared some new details about.

Scottish actor Sam, who has played Jamie Fraser on the popular show since it began in 2014, has given an update on the upcoming prequel series and how his character might be involved.

The first series of Outlander is set in the Scottish Highlands in 1743, and the prequel will likely focus on Jamie's parents Brian and Ellen Fraser many years before we first meet Jamie.

Fans might be disappointed to hear that it doesn't seem like Sam will be appearing in the spin-off show. Speaking to Esquire, the actor said: "All I can tell you is that I'm not in it."

He couldn't give too much away but did reveal: "I believe that it's a prequel focusing on Jamie's parents when they were younger, so I guess you might see a young version of him at some point.

"But I think I may be a little too old to play young Jamie now!"

He didn't completely rule out the possibility of some kind of cameo, however, adding: "I could play his dad maybe, or a flash forward? It is time travel, after all."

Outlander showrunner Matthew B. Roberts will write and executive produce the series, which hasn't been given a name or a release date yet.

Speaking about the next series of Outlander, Sam commented: "This season is going to take a while, it’s an 18-episode bumper mega season, so we probably won’t be finished until March or February of next year."

Check out some of the filming locations of Outlander in Scotland:

Glencoe

Glencoe offers the perfect Scottish backdrop for filming Outlander scenes, including the opening credits! It also appears in numerous famous films including Harry Potter and Skyfall.

There is a visitor centre in Glencoe which you can stop by while admiring the beautiful hills and lochs in Scotland's most historic glen.

Doune Castle

Doune Castle appears in the first episode of Outlander as Castle Leoch where the Mackenzie clan first brings Claire. In the series, the castle is set in the northern Highlands, but the real Doune Castle is actually in Stirling.

The castle has also been used for scenes in Game of Thrones as Winterfell as well as Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Glasgow Cathedral

It might have looked like Claire was in L'Hopital des Anges in Paris in season two of Outlander, but filming actually took place in Glasgow Cathedral.

More than half a million people visited the cathedral in 2019 after it featured in the show!

Blackness Castle

In season one and two, Jamie was imprisoned at Captain Jack Randall's headquarters in Fort William. This was filmed at Blackness Castle in South Queensferry, near Edinburgh.

After the castle appeared in the show, visitor numbers soared from around 15,000 in 2013 to 50,000 in 2019.

Linlithgow Palace

The birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots in 1542, Linlithgow Palace served as the site for Wentworth Prison in Outlander in season one.

Dean Castle

The stunning 14th-century Dean Castle in Kilmarnock featured in season two of Outlander, appearing as Beaufort Castle in the Highlands in the show.

Currently closed for restoration works, the castle is due to reopen in early 2023 but you can still visit the grounds.

As well as playing a handsome Highlander, Sam will also appear as a crooked cop in the upcoming crime drama series Suspect. He said of the role: "He’s a bit of a dark character, who’s got himself into some tricky situations, he’s got a bit of a habit and he’s slightly volatile.

"It’s fun to not always be the good guy - Jamie Fraser is the king of men, so it’s nice to play something different. My background is theatre so I enjoy stretching myself and playing different roles."

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