Sam Heughan is making headlines with his dramatic transformation—and a daring new career move. Fresh off filming the final season of “Outlander,” the Scottish actor has traded in Jamie Fraser’s signature flowing red locks for a much shorter cut as he prepares to take on one of Shakespeare’s most iconic roles.

Sam Heughan Opens Up About Returning to the Stage—With a Shocking New Look

After more than a decade portraying “Outlander’s” dashing Jamie Fraser, Sam Heughan is ready for a new challenge—and a new look to match. In a recent interview with Deadline, Heughan revealed he will star as Macbeth in an upcoming Royal Shakespeare Company production, marking his first return to the stage in 12 years. To embody the murderous Scottish king, Heughan has cropped his famous hair—a move that surprised even his most devoted fans.

“It’s exciting to be treading the boards again,” Heughan told the outlet. “I’ve been doing ‘Outlander’ for 11 years, and obviously it was brilliant, but I wanted something else.” Heughan added that seeing “Edward II” performed at the RSC reignited his passion for the stage. “I sat in the auditorium and I felt that excitement, sort of the churn in my stomach as the lights went down and I was like, ‘Yeah, this is the drug I’m looking for.’ And it’s terrifying. And I think that’s a good thing—to be scared again.”

“Macbeth,” directed by Daniel Raggett, will run at The Other Place studio venue in Stratford-upon-Avon from October 9 through December 6. Joining Heughan onstage will be acclaimed actress Lia Williams, who will play Lady Macbeth. Williams is known for her roles as Wallis Simpson in “The Crown” and Isabel Kirby in Peacock’s “The Day of the Jackal.”

The transformation didn’t stay secret for long. On June 3, Heughan, 45, took to Instagram to share his excitement about the role—and his shorter new hairstyle. “At age 18, standing on the main stage of the Royal Lyceum Edinburgh, playing ‘spear-carrier number 2’ (essentially a glorified extra) in a production of ‘Macbeth, I could only dream of one day playing the infamous title character,” he wrote.

Reflecting on his career shift, Heughan added: “It feels full circle to be returning to the stage, after over a decade working primarily in television and film. Not only is ‘Macbeth’ my favourite Shakespeare play: intense, immediate and unsettling, it also happens to be famously Scottish.”

He called his debut with the Royal Shakespeare Company “the pinnacle of my ambition” and expressed gratitude for the opportunity. “The Other Place is the perfect space to create an intense, intimate production and, like Lady M, we will be calling upon the spirits of the RSC’s highly acclaimed past productions for their blessing. See you in Stratford Upon Avon!” he concluded.

Fans quickly filled the comments with excitement. One wrote, “I hope to see my dream come true and be in a privileged audience. Thank you, Sam, it’s going to be a real treat to see you on stage.”

Another added, “It’s super exciting seeing you back to your theatrical roots and shining in your stage element! Congrats! #breakaleg.”