Following the emotional conclusion of Outlander after its incredible eight-season run on television, fans across the globe have been eagerly tracking what comes next for their favorite Highland warrior. While the broader franchise remains alive and thriving through its prequel series Outlander: Blood of My Blood—which is already navigating its second season—missing the original star-studded cast was inevitable. Fortunately, Scottish actor Sam Heughan is officially stepping into an exhilarating new era, securing not just one, but two blockbuster television projects that are set to showcase a completely different side of his acting range.
While Heughan occasionally tackled other creative roles during his lengthy tenure as Jamie Fraser, embarking on major post-Outlander projects marks a momentous milestone in his Hollywood career. Both newly announced television productions boast elite ensemble casts and deeply gripping storylines, leaving television enthusiasts genuinely torn over which upcoming role will deliver the ultimate thrill.
Diving Into Corporate Crisis and Damage Control in Paramount+’s ‘Ascent’
In major casting news reported by TVLine, Sam Heughan has officially signed on to star alongside Academy Award-winner Viola Davis in the upcoming Paramount+ corporate drama series Ascent. Penned by acclaimed writer John Logan, the series is officially described as a character-driven, high-stakes thriller centered around the cutthroat, high-pressure universe of international corporate damage control and crisis management.
In Ascent, Heughan takes on the key role of Conal, one of the elite representatives working at the influential firm Ascent Ventures. Official character breakdowns reveal Conal to be a “lethally charming and natural chameleon” who relies on supreme social cunning and unyielding ruthlessness to accomplish his goals, deriving a genuine adrenaline rush every time he completes a high-risk assignment.
Transitioning from an eighteenth-century Scottish warrior fighting for honor into a modern-day, ruthless corporate operative represents a massive, exciting departure for Heughan. While it may take a brief adjustment period for long-time viewers to separate the actor from his iconic role as Jamie Fraser, the prospect of watching him share the screen with Viola Davis under Logan’s razor-sharp writing is nothing short of incredible.
Taking on Armed Mercenaries in the Geopolitical Action Thriller ‘Embassy’
As if a high-stakes corporate drama were not enough, Heughan has a second powerhouse project already underway. First announced back in January, the actor is set to star in Embassy, a six-part geopolitical action-thriller series produced through a joint effort by AGC Television, Ascendant Fox, and Turbine Studios. Joining a stellar cast that includes Anna Kendrick and Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons, Heughan portrays Connor Wright, a battle-hardened British SAS soldier.
According to the official logline provided by Deadline, the explosive narrative centers on Layla (played by Anna Kendrick), a sharp-witted American diplomat thrust into a nightmare scenario. When heavily armed mercenaries suddenly storm the United States Embassy in London, Layla finds herself forced to make an impossible choice: follow orders from the U.S. Ambassador (played by J.K. Simmons) to safely exfiltrate a high-value asset, or step up to protect the Ambassador himself. Navigating the terrifying standoff, she must rely entirely on her sharp instincts and the reluctant assistance of her battle-hardened ex-fiancé, Connor Wright (Heughan), during the grueling, high-tension hours before extraction.
Principal production for Embassy officially kicked off in February across London and Cologne. While the series was not initially attached to a specific network or streaming platform when Heughan first joined, premium channel MGM+ officially acquired the distribution rights in July. Although a formal premiere date has yet to be finalized, the project is shaping up to be well worth the wait.
What Lies Ahead for ‘Outlander’ Devotees?
With both Embassy and Ascent promising intense action, complex characters, and top-tier co-stars, choosing between them seems nearly impossible. The most exciting realization for viewers is that Sam Heughan will not be absent from television screens for very long.
While waiting for more official production updates and trailer drops on both series, fans can continuously relive Heughan’s historic performance by streaming all eight seasons of Outlander on Starz. Additionally, the first seven seasons are currently available for streaming with a Netflix subscription, with the eighth and final season expected to arrive on the platform in the near future.
Source: compiled from various sources
