Outlander: Starz Boss Reveals Future of Main Series After Prequel Announcement

Starz has not yet committed to picking up an eighth season of Outlander, following the news that the fan-favorite series will get a prequel, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, which will center on the love story of Jamie Fraser's parents. Starz's chief of original programming reassured fans in a new interview that the prequel series will not diminish the network's commitment to the original series, but declined to give any updates on contract negotiations with the stars of Outlander. Starz also reiterated that, while they had not reached out to author Diana Gabaldon prior to announcing the prequel, they have since remedied that, and are working on bringing her aboard as an advisor.

The Outlander television series is inspired by Gabaldon's international bestselling books, which have sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide, with all nine of the books gracing the New York Times best-seller list. The Outlander television series has become a worldwide success with audiences, spanning the genres of history, science fiction, romance and adventure, and creating one of Starz's most buzzworthy shows.  

"Outlander is such a very important show for us that we would love to have as much Outlander as we possibly can have," said Kathryn Busby, President, Original Programming at Starz, in a statement to Deadline. "[The prequel will] absolutely not [take away Starz's commitment to the original series]. What we've proven with the Power franchise is that we can have different lanes of storytelling around the same base. We believe that we can do that with Outlander as well. They are not mutually exclusive at all."

A writers' room has been convened for Outlander: Blood of My Blood, which includes showrunner and executive producer Matthew B. Roberts. Roberts is also the showrunner and executive producer for Outlander, which is currently in production on its seventh season.  In addition to Roberts, Maril Davis will also executive produce the prequel along with Ronald D. Moore, who developed Outlander for television, under their production banner Tall Ship Productions. Story Mining & Supply Company will also executive produce with Diana Gabaldon serving as a consulting producer.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood will be produced by Sony Pictures Television. Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Karen Bailey will oversee the prequel on behalf of Starz, and the show will be available across its international footprint on Starz in Canada and StarzPlay in Europe, Latin America and Brazil.

Outlander follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world in which her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate relationship is ignited that tears Claire's heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.