Outlander fans can rejoice as the COVID-delayed series will be continuing on Starz. According to Deadline, the hit fantasy drama series received a seventh-season renewal ahead of its sixth season premiere. The series recently returned to filming the sixth season after being delayed by COVID-19.
The show is based on a series of romance fantasy novels by author Diana Gabaldon (Voyager, The Fiery Cross). According to Deadline, the series stars Caitriona Balfe (Ford V Ferrari, Money Monster) as Claire Randall, a married woman who finds her 1946 post-WWII world transformed back to 1743 Scotland. The series also stars Sam Heughan (The Spy Who Dumped Me, Bloodshot), Sophie Skelton (Day of the Dead: Bloodline, 211), and Richard Rankin (The Crimson Field, From Darkness).
“The hit series Outlander embodies everything about our Take The Lead initiative including a powerful female lead character and an amazing team of storytellers,” Christina Davis, Starz President of Original Programming said via Deadline. “We look forward to following the adventures of Claire and Jamie in America during the Revolution as well as more time travel during this next season,” Davis said via Deadline.
According to Deadline, the series is produced through Sony Pictures Television with Matthew B. Roberts (Caprica, Hellcats) serving as showrunner. Executive producers include Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek: First Contact), Roberts, Maril Davis (Star Trek: Insurrection, For All Mankind), Toni Graphia (Alcatraz, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Andy Harris (Sunset Song, Behind the Lines), and Jim Kohlberg (The Music Never Stopped, UFO). Sony produces in collaboration with Tall Ship Productions, Left Bank Pictures, and Story Minning & Supply Company.
Deadline reports the seventh season will rightfully pull from the seventh book, An Echo in the Bone. The series could continue beyond that as Gabaldon is currently writing the ninth book, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone. In addition to more books, viewers have long-awaited subsequent spin-offs from the series, including one highlighting the beloved character Lord John Grey played by David Berry (A Place to Call Home, Progeny).
“There’s a lot of opportunity in the Outlander universe to have story extensions, spin-offs or sequels,” Starz CEO Jeffery Hirsch said via Deadline. “Hopefully we’ll find something that feels great and that we can continue to tell that story,” Hirsch said according to Deadline.
The series has spawned an unscripted series called Men In Kilts, which follows Heughan and fellow co-star, Graham McTavish (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Preacher) as they travel Scotland. According to Deadline, the docuseries explores Scottish heritage and identity, including both actors’ backgrounds.