Although it will be a while before Outlander fans get to see it, Starz did confirm the historical fantasy drama’s eighth season. Based on Diana Gabaldon’s books, Outlander initially follows the life of WWII nurse, Claire Randall (Caitríona Balfe), who is sent back to Scotland in 1743. While she tries her best to return to the present, Claire soon finds her loyalties divided as she falls in love with Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), a rebellious Scottish Highlander, and wants to help his family after discovering their part in the Jacobite rebellion.
Like many of the best book-to-TV shows, Outlander has had to take some creative liberties with the series since Gabaldon is still writing the books. While the TV writers have made sure to include major plot events (such as the Battle of Culloden and the American Revolutionary War), they have also expanded some characters’ arcs (such as Murtagh Fitzgibbons) to make sure things are as unpredictable and fresh as possible. Season 8 will also likely follow a similar approach, with writers upping the ante even more – especially as it has been announced that this is the final season.
Outlander Season 8 Latest News
New Season 8 Story Details Are Revealed
With excitement building for the show’s final season, the latest news confirms a few story details about Outlander season 8. While discussing the seventh and eighth seasons in a recent interview, showrunner Maril Davis and author Diana Gabaldon revealed which books will be covered in which seasons. Though it was known that season 8 would tackle some of the events of book 9 (Go Tell the Bees I Am Gone), they also announced that an as-yet-unreleased 10th book would factor in as well.
the close partnership between the series creators and the author of the books allows for certain details to make the show long before a book is ever published.
While neither were able to say much about the mysterious 10th book, Davis lamented the fact that the series wouldn’t be able to fully cover all of Gabaldon’s book series. Similar to shows that came before (mainly Game of Thrones), the close partnership between the series creators and the author of the books allows for certain details to make the show long before a book is ever published.
Read Davis and Gabaldon’s full comments below:
Maril Davis: Season 7 actually encompasses the last little part of book six, because we didn’t, weren’t able to finish in Season 6, then books seven and eight. Season 8 will be book nine… I wish we had more of book ten.
Diana Gabaldon: [And] little pieces of book 10.
Davis: I wish we had more of book ten… I mean, I would love to finish [all the books]. I mean, whether or not all the characters survive, don’t survive in Season 8. I would like to come back for book ten.
Outlander Season 8 Confirmed
The Epic Time Travel Romance Concludes With Season 8
With filming wrapped in September 2024, season 8 may arrive sooner than expected.
In January 2023, it was revealed that Outlander had been renewed for a season 8, with Starz also confirming that this would be the last. Consisting of 10 episodes, season 8 will see executive producers Ronald D. Moore, Matthew B. Roberts, and Maril Davis return to help give the show’s beloved characters the sendoff they deserve. Like all the other seasons, author Diana Gabaldon will likely be helping out as a consultant on season 8. With filming wrapped in September 2024, season 8 may arrive sooner than expected.
Outlander Season 8 Cast
Who Will Return For The Final Season?
With Starz confirming that season 7 and 8 will bring “Claire and Jamie’s love story to an epic conclusion“, it’s safe to say that Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan will return to play fan favorite Outlander characters, Claire and Jamie Fraser. As season 8 will focus on Gabaldon’s ninth book, Go Tell The Bees That I’m Gone, viewers should also expect to see Sophie Skelton’s Brianna and Richard Rankin’s Roger make an appearance, since they are also instrumental to the plot. Conversely, Tobias Menzies has confirmed he won’t return as Jack in season 8.
The likely cast of Outlander season 8 includes:
| Actor | Outlander Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Caitríona Balfe | Claire Fraser |  |
| Sam Heughan | Jamie Fraser |  |
| Sophie Skelton | Brianna |  |
| Richar Rankin | Roger |  |
| César Domboy | Fergus Fraser |  |
| Lauren Lyle | Marsali Fraser |  |
| John Bell | Young Ian Fraser |  |
| Kristin Atherton | Jenny Murray |  |
| David Berry | Lord John Grey |  |
| Charles Vandervaart | William Ransom |  |
| Izzy Meikle-Small | Rachel Hunter |  |
Outlander Season 8 Story Details
How Will It All End?
Although not a lot of details about Outlander season 8 have been confirmed, Gabaldon did reveal that the final season will focus mainly on her ninth book, Go Tell The Bees That I’m Gone (via TV Guide). In that novel, Jamie and Claire’s relationship is thrown into turmoil once again as the American Revolutionary War threatens to tear them and their family apart. The as-yet-unreleased 10th book is also going to factor in, but details remain elusive.
After the villainous Rob Cameron (who is also a major character in Outlander season 7) caused chaos for Brianna, Roger, and their family in the 20th century, Go Tell The Bees I’m Gone also delves further into their worries and fears that more conspiracists will try to track them down. One thread introduced in the finale of season 7 will definitely need to be explained, that being the true fate of Jamie and Claire’s firstborn, Faith. Long thought to have been stillborn back in season 2, it was revealed that she somehow survived and sired Jane and Frances.
Frances is heard singing the song “I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside”, and this immediately sparks Claire’s interest because she sang it to her deceased infant, Faith, all those years before. What makes it even more intriguing is that Frances reveals her mother taught her the song, despite the fact that it wouldn’t be penned until 1907. Outlander has been known for a twist or two, but the revelation at the end of season 7 sets the stage for a truly shocking final season.