According to TVLine, Starz is in the continuing stages of the casting process for the new Outlander prequel series, Outlander: Blood of My Blood. The ten episode series has cast younger versions of four former characters.
The series casted Rory Alexander (Pistol, Alex Rider) as young Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser, Conor MacNeill (The Tourist, Industry) as young Ned Gowan, Sam Retford (Ralph & Katie, Ackley Bridge) as young Dougal MacKenzie and Séamus McLean Ross (Payback) as young Colum MacKenzie.
They assume the roles from previous actors: Duncan LaCroix (Outlaw King, Vikings), Bill Paterson (The Witches, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People), Graham McTavish (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Rambo) and Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot, Gangs of New York), respectively.
According to TVLine, Outlander: Blood of My Blood is set to explore the lives of Jamie’s parents, Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie, portrayed by Jamie Roy (Squeaky Clean Mysteries: Hazardous Duty, Condor’s Nest) and Harriet Slater (Pennyworth, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), respectively. The series will also focus on Claire’s parents, Henry Beauchamp and Julia Moriston, portrayed by Jeremy Irvine (War Horse, Great Expectations) and Hermione Corfield (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi), respectively. The series will tell the two love stories set in two different time periods with Jamie’s parents in the early 18th century Scottish Highlands and Claire’s parents in WWI England.
Matthew B. Roberts (Caprica, Hellcats), Outlander: Blood of My Blood showrunner, in a statement via TVLine said, “We are thrilled to expand our season one cast with some well-known characters from the Outlander universe. We’re so excited to welcome Rory, Sam, Séamus and Conor to the MacKenzie and Fraser clans and to explore the young journeys of these fan-favorite characters.”
Production for the series has already begun in Scotland.
Outlander, the original series, will release the last eight episodes of season seven at some point later this year. The series is getting one last farewell season, which is expected to begin production in Scotland soon.