An Outlander movie used to be in the pipeline with different actors set to play the iconic duo that is Jamie and Claire Fraser.

More than 30 years ago, the first book in author Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander novel series, Cross Stitch, was published and readers fell in love with the Scottish time travel story.

Her stories may now form the international hit series on Starz, but this wasn’t always going to be the case.

In an interview shared on Gabaldon’s website, prior to Outlander becoming a TV drama, there was talks of it becoming a film.

She confirmed: “Yes, the books have been optioned several times for their film rights, and Outlander is currently under option.

It’s the sort of situation where you don’t hold your breath, but just wait and see what happens.”

Scrapped Outlander film saw two Hollywood actors in the running for Jamie and Claire. (Image: STARZ)

Starz subscribers may instantly think of Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe as Jamie and Claire Fraser respectively, however, there were two other famous names in the running at the time.

It turns out that Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson, best known for Schindler’s List, Taken Narnia and Clash of the Titans, was considered to play highlander Jamie Fraser.

Speaking to EOnline, Gabaldon said: “This was years ago when I was first approached about adapting Outlander, when it was a feature film.

“But Liam Neeson and Sean Connery were the first contenders for Jamie.”

It could have been Neeson’s part in the 1995 movie Rob Roy where he played the titular highlander, frequently donning a kilt, that made Gabaldon think of the 71-year-old at the time.

Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson in the titular role of highlander Rob Roy in 1995. (Image: GETTY)

Meanwhile, it was Grey’s Anatomy star and 27 Dresses actress Katherine Heigl who had been hinted at for the part of Claire.

Following a 2010 interview with the New York Times, an article stated: “Heigl will then turn toward sharply dramatic work, starring as a Scottish heroine in an adaptation of Outlander.”

Heigl reportedly teased: “Scotland? 2012? What do you think?”, although she never confirmed this to be the case.

And while casting Heughan as Jamie in the series, which would start two years later, was relatively straightforward, showrunner Ronald D Moore admitted to struggling with finding their Claire.

Grey’s Anatomy and 27 Dresses star Katherine Heigl. (Image: GETTY)

“We didn’t find her [Caitriona Balfe] until very late in the game, and she taped her own audition and sent it in,” he explained to Collider.

“We just were like pretty certain from her tape that she was the one.

“And then when we saw the chemistry test, we were convinced.”