What do we know about the story of Blood of My Blood?

Jamie Fraser himself told the story of the romance between Brian and Ellen in season 1 to Claire, so we know that it was a forbidden marriage. But Brian and a headstrong Ellen fell in love and married despite her family’s objections—Brian wasn’t considered good enough because he was a bastard, even though his father was Lord Lovat. As a result, they eloped during the Great Gathering because Ellen’s brothers had promised her hand to someone else.

Last year at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Gabaldon told the audience that she had already contributed story ideas for the new show.

“We know the start of their story because Jamie told it in Outlander, but of course there is a lot more to tell, as the first part of the story takes part during the 1715 Jacobite Rising,” Gabaldon said. “The story is woven in with the Jacobite Risings – there will be a lot of clan politics and other interesting things.”

Not surprisingly, Gabaldon also has a book in the works, as yet untitled.

“I have written a three-page synopsis of what I conceive to be the beginning of the book,” Gabaldon continued. “I gave them that to work off, which they are doing. Meanwhile, I will show them the pieces of the book I am writing. They will use what they can use. That is all assuming the show is green-lit. If it does, I will certainly be involved in it.”

In addition, Gabaldon has released an excerpt from the as yet untitled novel, which is too long to include here, but can be read on Gabaldon’s website.

What characters will be featured in Blood of My Blood?

Brian Fraser: We met Brian in season 1 of Outlander during a flashback scene in which Jamie was being whipped by Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies). Brian died from the shock of seeing his son being so treated. At that time, Andrew Whipp played Brian, but the role will need to be recast for the prequel because it will feature a much younger Brian.

Ellen MacKenzie: Ellen has never popped up during the six seasons of Outlander because she died while Jamie was just a wee bairn, which was many years before the events of the books and the series began.

Jocasta MacKenzie, Ellen’s sister

Dougall MacKenzie, Ellen’s brother

Colum MacKenzie, Ellen’s brother

Murtagh FitzgGibbons Fraser, who is second cousin to Brian: We came to love Murtagh before his demise in the Outlander series—he died at Culloden in the books, so years earlier than on the show—but the one thing that did remain the same is the secret, unrequited love he felt for Ellen.

Other possibilities are Brian’s father Lord Lovett, Ellen’s two other sisters Janet and Flora and Brian’s two half-brothers Simon and Alexander.

Who is in the cast of Outlander: Blood of My Blood?

Harriet Slater (Ellen MacKenzie)

The Leicester, England-born actress’ credits include Pennyworth, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, The Haunting in Wicker Park, Horrorscope, and the lead character of Clara Dunn in Julian Fellowes’ Belgravia: The Next Chapter, currently airing on MGM+.

Jamie Roy (Brian Fraser)

A native of Scotland, Roy’s credits include Condor’s Nest, Your Boyfriend is Mine, Squeaky Clean Mysteries: Hazardous Duty, Flowers and Honey, Burning Little Lies, and Picture Perfect Lies.

Hermione Corfield (Julia Moriston)

Born in London, Corfield’s credits include xXx: Return of Xander Cage, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Fallen, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Mr. Holmes, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, the fifth installment in the Mission Impossible franchise, and she just wrapped production on the thriller, Family Secrets.

Jeremy Irvine (Henry Beauchamp)

The British actor’s credits include War Horse, Now Is Good, The Railway Man, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Leopardi & Co, Return to Silent Hill, Baghead, This Is Christmas, Dalgliesh, Treadstone, and The Last Full Measure.

Rory Alexander (Murtagh Fraser)

Rory Alexander’s credits include his leading role in Inland opposite Mark Rylance, Pistol, Then You Run, and Untamed, which will come out later this year. The graduate of Bristol Old Vic in 2020 also appeared in There’s Someone at the Window and guest spots in Alex Rider and Call the Midwife.

Sam Retford (Dougal MacKenzie)

Sam Retford is an Australian actor, working within both stage and screen since the age of 14. He is best known for his role as Cory Wilson in Ackley Bridge and has since gone on to feature in numerous shows such as The Boleyn’s: A Scandalous Family, Ralph and Katie, Blindspot, Coronation Street and All Creatures Great and Small.

Séamus McLean Ross (Colum MacKenzie)

Séamus McLean Ross graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2022 and made his on-screen debut in Rebus and Payback. Onstage, he appeared in The Flea and whilst at Guildhall took the leading roles in theatre productions, including playing Malvolio in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Nickolai Oblonsky in Anna Karenina.

Conor MacNeill (Ned Gowan)

Irish actor and writer Conor MacNeill most recently was featured in an episode of The Tourist, and the films In the Land of Saints and Sinners, Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre, and Belfast. MacNeill also starred in the TV mini-series The Sixth Commandment, Resistance and Rebellion, and the TV series Industry, Derry Girls, and The Fall. In addition to MacNeill’s work as an actor, he has also written the short film The Party, which won a BAFTA award for Best British Short Film and the European Film Award for Best Short Film in 2017.

Brian McCardie (Isaac Grant)

McCardie made his feature film debut in Rob Roy, followed by roles in The Ghost and the Darkness, Speed 2 and The Damned United, as well as playing “Dougie Gillman” in Irvine Welsh’s Filth.

Jhon Lumsden (Malcolm Grant)

Lumsden’s television credits include Karen Pirie (which starred Outlander’s Lauren Lyle), Blood, Sex & Royalty, and Pancake. Lumsden’s most recent work was The Famous Five, which will air later this year.

Sara Vickers (Davina Porter)

Vickers is best known for her role as Joan Thursday, in the Inspector Morse prequel, Endeavour from 2013-2023, as well as Sunshine on Leith and Shetland. She played Ms. Crookshanks in The Watchmen and recently starred in Guilt.

Peter Mullan (Red Jacob MacKenzie)

Mullan is probably best known for his portrayal of Joe in the 1988 Ken Loach film My Name Is Joe. Other film roles include Riff-Raff, Braveheart, Trainspotting, Miss Julie, Young Adam, Children of Men, The Red Riding Trilogy, War Horse, the Harry Potter film series and The Vanishing. His TV credits include Ozark, Westworld, Cursed, Mum, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Underground Railroad.

Sally Messham as Mrs. Fitz

Selly Meggham plays Mrs. Fitz, Ellen’s maid at Castle Leoch and Murtagh’s aunt.

Terence Rae (Arch Bug)

Terence Rae will be playing another role familiar to fans of Outlander, Arch Bug, who’s working as a bodyguard to Clan Grant.

Sadhbh Malin (Jocasta Cameron)

Sadhbh Malin will be playing another fan-favorite character, Jocasta Cameron, the feisty youngest child of the MacKenzie clan.

Alisa Davidson (Janet MacKenzie)

Ailsa Davidson will be playing her sister Janet MacKenzie, the fifth (and final) MacKenzie sibling.

How involved will Diana Gabaldon be in the creation of Outlander: Blood of My Blood?

The creative team that brings Outlander to the screen will also be running the show on the prequel. Outlander showrunner and executive producer Matthew B. Roberts will serve in the same roles for Blood of My Blood, as will his Outlander executive producer Maril Davis, who will serve as an EP once again. And Ronald D. Moore, who developed Outlander from book to series, will also EP with Gabaldon serving as a consulting producer on the series.

Who’s on the production team for Blood of My Blood?

Joining Roberts as part of the Blood of My Blood team will be Maril Davis, who will also executive produce the prequel along with Ronald D. Moore, who developed Outlander for television, under their production banner Tall Ship Productions.

Where can I watch Outlander: Blood of My Blood?

When it is released next summer, Outlander: Blood of My Blood will air exclusively on STARZ the STARZ app.