Starz means to end the Outlander series with its Season 8, at the same time, it picks up the prequel series Outlander: Blood Of My Blood. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Starz closes the series with an order for the eighth and final season.
Amidst fans anticipating the 7th season this summer, the series will gear up to close the story of Claire and Jaime in its eighth and final season.
From its initial premiere in 2014, Outlander has opened historical doors to its viewers bridging different timelines between its characters.
Based on the eponymous novel from author Diana Gabaldon, Ronald D. Moore developed the series for its television live-action adaptation. Succeeding seasons also utilised Gabaldon’s novels that followed.
Specifically, Dragonfly in Amber was the basis for the second season which had 13 episodes. The third season had 13 episodes taking chapters from Voyager. Then, the fourth season, having 13 episodes as well used Drums of Autumn.
The fifth season that aired in 2020 was based on The Fiery Cross. The last completed season had only eight episodes featuring the story of A Breath of Snow and Ashes, which aired last year.
Starz Ends Outlander By Season 8
READ MORE: Outlander Season 7 Potential Release Date, Cast, Story & Everything We Know So Far
This year, the seventh season will base its story on the novel An Echo in the Bone. Even though the news about the eighth and final season is exactly that… new, fans already have ideas on which novel will be the basis for it.
Starring Caitriona Balfe as Claire Randall and Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser, Outlander has covered love, betrayal, loyalty to family, friends and nation, as well as war atrocities throughout its seasons.
The series also covers historical events which play key elements in the storytelling. The fictional characters navigate their lives and address their challenges during very real points in time.
In THR’s report, the prequel series will usher in a new set of stories. One that will focus on Jamie Fraser’s parents.
For the first season of the prequel series, Starz orders ten episodes. Likewise, the 8th and final season of the original series will also comprise the same number of episodes.
So far, the production has confirmed that the upcoming 7th season is posing to be one of the longest in the series’ run. The season will serve 16 episodes featuring The Revolution.
President for Original Programming at Starz, Kathryn Busby states:
For nearly a decade Outlander has won the hearts of audiences worldwide and we’re pleased to bring Claire and Jamie’s epic love story to a proper conclusion. But before we close this chapter there is plenty of their passionate story to tell over the course of 26 new episodes and even more to explore of this dynamic world and its origin story.
This is the official green light to the prequel series as well. Furthermore, Starz means to keep the people behind the original series for the prequel series. Busby said:
We’re thrilled to continue to partner with Matthew, Maril and Ronald and can’t wait to see where their alluring storytelling takes us next.
Outlander: Blood Of My Blood will focus on the love story of Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie – Jamie’s parents.
Author Diana Gabaldon is still a consulting producer for the prequel series. Matthew B. Roberts remains on board as the showrunner as he is for the Outlander series. Roberts shares:
Outlander: Blood of My Blood is, at its heart, a love story. It will explore what lengths a person will go to find love in a time when love is considered a luxury, and when marriages are made strategically, often for political or financial gain.
Despite the new series being a prequel, Roberts states that it will still reflect Jamie and Claire’s story. He explains:
The title is a nod to Jamie Fraser’s marriage vow to Claire and there will be several names and faces that Outlander fans will know and recognize.
Starz Explore More Outlander Stories After 8 Seasons
Credit: Starz
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Roberts also brings exciting news for fans even though the original series is coming to a close:
Jamie and Claire’s TV story may be coming to an end with season eight, but Diana is continuing on with their literary journey in her wonderful book series and is working diligently on book ten.
With Jamie and Claire, and now Brian and Ellen, there is still so much more to come in the Outlander universe, and we cannot wait to continue sharing these stories with our dedicated fans.
True enough, fans are expecting that the final season will be based on Written in My Own Heart’s Blood. The book that author Gabaldon calls MOBY for short. Not because of the classic literature about a whale but because of the book’s acronym.
Although the production confirms it to be the final season’s resource, there is, however, the notion that it will pick up some elements from the author’s 9th and upcoming tenth book. Mainly because Gabaldon has expressed that she plans to conclude the series with the 10th book as well.
Do you think Starz is making a good decision to close the series by the eighth season? That they make this decision despite the author still having two books which could be a good resource for material? Or could they get a separate season for it instead?
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I don’t think it’s been “cancelled” – not with this kind of notice.