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The upcoming Starz prequel Outlander: Blood of My Blood will expand the world of Outlander by exploring the lives of Jamie and Claire Fraser’s parents, and the showrunner says there’s a lot more planned beyond the first season. According to IGN, Matthew B. Roberts revealed that the series won’t just be a one-off story and could go on
“as long as we have really good stories to tell.”
The new series introduces two parallel love stories. In 1714, Jamie’s parents, Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie, fall in love while navigating dangerous clan rivalries before the Jacobite uprising.
Meanwhile, in the early 20th century, Claire’s parents, Henry Beauchamp and Julia Moriston, faced their struggles during and after World War I. A car accident in Scotland sends Julia and Henry separately through Craigh na Dun, the mystical stone circle, transporting them to the same period as Brian and Ellen.
Roberts explained that these coincidences are intentional.
“In our world, coincidences are known as fate and destiny,” he told IGN.
The series premieres August 8 on Starz.
Expanding the Outlander timeline
According to Roberts, the story respects established Outlander lore while adding new layers.
“We were very careful not to unwind anything. Just to add to,” he said.
Brian and Ellen’s relationship follows the books, but the series
“accordion[s] out on that story” to explore their romance in more depth.
Claire’s parents, however, are original to the series.
“Henry and Julia, obviously that’s free game,” Roberts said, explaining that author Diana Gabaldon approved the idea when it was pitched to her.
“She was like, go for it, that sounds like a cool idea.”
Executive producer Maril Davis noted that moving away from the books allowed for more creative freedom.
“In Blood of My Blood, you not only have two couples instead of one, but you just have so much more freedom to explore the ancillary characters in a way that we didn’t get to do on Outlander,” she said.
Fate, time travel, and family dynamics
Time travel remains central to Outlander: Blood of My Blood. Roberts said removing it was never an option:
“That would’ve just been two parallel love stories being told at the same time. Outlander has time travel. That’s what makes Outlander magic.”
He compared its use to the concept of fate:
“When all these fateful meetings happen, that’s what they are. They’re designed by fate or destiny or whatever you want to call it.”
Outlander: Blood of My Blood will also explore family relationships in more depth. Roberts described how Red Jacob MacKenzie treats his daughter Ellen differently from his sons.
“He opens his heart to her and he knows he can because she’s a woman and that she won’t ever have the burden of being the Laird,” he said.
Brian Fraser’s upbringing will also be shaped by his father, Lord Lovat.
“I think Lovat is a little different in that he has a big heart and he truly loves deeply for himself,” Roberts explained.
Davis added that Brian
“has been forged by fire” and guided by his mother, saying he “gotten out of that situation far better than one could hope.”
Future seasons of Outlander: Blood of My Blood and story scope
While Outlander: Blood of My Blood begins in Scotland in 1714, Roberts suggested there is room for the story to evolve.
“We know their lives are in Scotland. It doesn’t mean that a character can’t go somewhere, but the majority of these characters live and die in Scotland,” he said.
The showrunner also addressed its long-term future. IGN reports that production is already underway on season two, with Roberts confirming there’s no set limit on how long the series could run.
“I think it goes as long as we have really good stories to tell. And if that’s three seasons – I hope it’s not, I hope it’s more than that – but I think we have a lot of story there,” he said.
Diana Gabaldon is currently working on three prequel books, which could further guide Outlander: Blood of My Blood.
“We can go backwards and forwards a little bit,” Roberts added, suggesting the show may explore different time periods within the Outlander universe.
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The showrunner of Outlander: Blood of My Blood states that the series is designed to explore multiple timelines, family histories, and the role of fate within the Outlander universe.
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