Confirmation, Cast & Everything We Know

This article contains spoilers for Go Tell The Bees I’m Gone (Book 9)

Although it will be a while before Outlander fans get to see it, Starz did confirm the historical fantasy drama’s eighth season. Based on Diana Gabaldon’s books, Outlander initially follows the life of WWII nurse, Claire Randall (Caitríona Balfe), who is sent back to Scotland in 1743. While she tries her best to return to the present, Claire soon finds her loyalties divided as she falls in love with Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), a rebellious Scottish Highlander, and wants to help his family after discovering their part in the Jacobite rebellion.

Like many of the best book-to-TV shows, Outlander has had to take some creative liberties with the series since Gabaldon is still writing the books. While the TV writers have made sure to include major plot events (such as the Battle of Culloden and the American Revolutionary War), they have also expanded some characters’ arcs (such as Murtagh Fitzgibbons) to make sure things are as unpredictable and fresh as possible. Season 8 will also likely follow a similar approach, with writers upping the ante even more – especially as it has been announced that this is the final season.

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Outlander Season 8 Latest News

A Major Character Will Not Appear In Season 8

Even as fans await news on season 7’s conclusion, the latest updates confirm a major cast member won’t return for Outlander season 8. Actor Tobias Menzies did double duty in the Outlander series as Claire’s modern-day husband Frank, and also as season 3 villain Black Jack Randall, Frank’s ancestor. However, Menzies has now revealed that he will not return to reprise either role in the final season of Outlander. This is a departure from the events of the eighth novel, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, in which Jack appears briefly due to time travel.

Outlander Season 8 Confirmed

The Epic Time Travel Romance Concludes With Season 8

In January 2023, it was revealed that Outlander had been renewed for a season 8, with Starz also confirming that this would also be the last. Consisting of 10 episodes, season 8 will see executive producers Ronald D. Moore, Matthew B. Roberts, and Maril Davis return to help give the show’s beloved characters the sendoff they deserve. Like all the other seasons, author Diana Gabaldon will likely be helping out as a consultant on season 8.

RELATED: Jamie & Claire’s Relationship Timeline In Outlander Explained

Outlander Season 8 Cast

Who Will Return For The Final Season?

With Starz confirming that season 7 and 8 will bring “Claire and Jamie’s love story to an epic conclusion“, it’s safe to say that Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan will return to play fan favorite Outlander characters, Claire and Jamie Fraser. As season 8 will focus on Gabaldon’s ninth book, Go Tell The Bees That I’m Gone, viewers should also expect to see Sophie Skelton’s Brianna and Richard Rankin’s Roger make an appearance, since they are also instrumental to the plot. Conversely, Tobias Menzies has confirmed he won’t return as Jack in season 8.

The likely cast of Outlander season 8 includes:

Outlander Season 8 Story Details

How Will It All End?

Although not a lot of details about Outlander season 8 have been confirmed, Gabaldon did reveal that the final season will focus mainly on her ninth book, Go Tell The Bees That I’m Gone (via TV Guide). In that novel, Jamie and Claire’s relationship is thrown into turmoil once again as the American Revolutionary War threatens to tear them and their family apart.

After the villainous Rob Cameron (who is also a major character in Outlander season 7) caused chaos for Brianna, Roger, and their family in the 20th century, Go Tell The Bees I’m Gone also delves further into their worries and fears that more conspiracists will try to track them down. Depending on how many artistic liberties the writers take and how much of the book they cover in season 7, it is likely that the main plot of Outlander season 8 will focus on these major plot points.

Outlander

Based on the novel series, Outlander follows combat nurse Claire Randall from the year 1945, who is mysteriously transported back to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world and sees her life threatened. However, when Claire is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a genuine and passionate relationship is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two different men from two clashing lives.