After hanging up his iconic Highland plaid following the eighth and final season of Outlander, Scottish actor Sam Heughan is stepping directly into the fast-paced world of corporate espionage. Shedding his period armor for modern executive attire, the former Jamie Fraser star has secured his next major role, joining one of the industry’s most dominant streaming platforms alongside a Hollywood powerhouse.

According to reporting from Deadline, Heughan will co-star alongside legendary EGOT winner Viola Davis in Ascent, a high-octane corporate thriller series currently in active development at Paramount+.

Inside the Plot of ‘Ascent’: Crisis Management, Fixers, and Deadly Ambition

Ascent dives deep into the high-stakes arena of elite corporate crisis control, centering around a secretive firm named Ascent Ventures:

• Viola Davis as Catriona: Davis leads the narrative as Catriona, an unyielding corporate fixer known for resolving high-profile scandals. When her estranged daughter is thrust into severe danger, Catriona must utilize every tactical skill at her disposal to save her.
• Sam Heughan as Conal: Departing sharply from his heroic historical persona, Heughan takes on the role of Conal, one of Ascent Ventures’ most formidable operatives. Described as a charismatic, chameleon-like operative who stops at nothing to achieve his objectives, the dynamic between Conal and Catriona—whether they align as allies or clash as rivals—remains a central mystery of the plot.

The Powerhouse Creative Team Behind the Series

The upcoming Paramount+ original is backed by a distinguished creative team with a proven track record of blockbuster successes:

• Created by John Logan: Acclaimed screenwriter John Logan serves as creator, showrunner, and executive producer. Logan’s portfolio includes critically acclaimed features such as Gladiator, The Last Samurai, the James Bond blockbusters Skyfall and Spectre, as well as the screenplay for the hit biopic Michael.
• Executive Production: The series is executive produced by Michael Aguilar (The Miniature Wife), alongside Viola Davis and Julius Tennon through their production banner, JuVee Productions.

Sam Heughan’s Unstoppable Post-‘Outlander’ Slate

Since Outlander concluded its final run, Heughan has maintained an exceptionally active production schedule. Beyond his previous television work in The Couple Next Door and feature films such as The Spy Who Dumped Me, Bloodshot, and SAS: Red Notice, the actor has built a robust slate of upcoming projects:

• ‘Embassy’ (MGM+): Heughan is set to star in this high-intensity thriller centered around an assault on the U.S. Embassy in London, sharing the screen with J.K. Simmons and Anna Kendrick. The series is slated for release next year.
• ‘Ascent’ (Paramount+): With development currently underway at Paramount+, official release timelines for Ascent will be announced as production progresses.

Source: Compiled from various sources