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‘Outlander’: Starz Hit Is Renewed For Two More Seasons

By Krista Clark
Published on: 10:34 PST, Jun 1, 2016

Fans of the Starz series Outlander have reason to celebrate today. E! Online is reporting that the cable network has announced that the story of Jamie and Claire will continue for not just one but two seasons. Seasons 3 and 4 will cover the second and third books in the series upon which the Outlander show is based. The book series is also titled Outlander, and the two books that will serve as the basis for the next two seasons are Voyager and Drums of Autumn. Season 2 runs through the beginning of July, and the next two seasons will follow the couple, played by Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, as they travel through countries in which we have not seen them in the first two seasons of Outlander.

Starz CEO Chris Albrecht had high praise for Outlander and its qualities that make it unique among current television programs. In his announcement about the renewal of Outlander, he praised its strong female characters, its depiction of history, and its powerful love story.

“Outlander is like nothing seen before on television. From its depiction of a truly powerful female lead character, to the devastating decimation of the Highlander way of life, to what is a rarely seen genuine and timeless love story, it is a show that not only transports the viewer, but inspires the passion and admiration of its fans.”

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Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, presidents of U.S. programming and production at Sony Pictures Television, promised viewers “the best seasons yet in the years ahead” and called Outlander “one of the most iconic premiere series on the air today.” Executive producer Ronald D. Moore has indicated that the next couple of seasons will be less about politics and more about the adventures of Claire and Jamie. Given the success of Outlander, it would have been surprising if Starz had chosen not to continue the series. The premiere episode of Season 2 of Outlander was watched by nearly 1.5 million viewers, making it Starz’s highest-rated season premiere ever. It’s also double the number of viewers for the Season 1 premiere and more viewers than any other single episode since Outlander began.

Deadline reports that Outlander received three Golden Globe nominations this year: Best Supporting Actor (Tobias Menzies who plays Jack Randall/Frank Randall), Best Lead Actress (Caitriona Balfe who plays Claire Randall/Fraser), and Best Drama Series. The first season of Outlander included 16 episodes and was filmed on location in Scotland. It consistently ranked in the top 10 weekly programs among women that season. For the first seven episodes in its second season, Outlander has consistently been in the top two for cable shows among women ages 18 and older.

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The announcement about the renewal of Outlander comes appropriately on the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Lead actors Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan tweeted reactions to the announcement, Sam joking about the unknown fate of Claire and Jamie.

Outlander author Diana Gabaldon tweeted that she expected nothing less.

The story of Outlander is a bit complex, but basically it’s about the life of Claire Randall/Fraser. As the series begins, World War 2 has just ended. Claire was a combat nurse in the war and is married to Frank Randall. While on a trip with Frank, she is transported back in time to 1743 Scotland. She is forced, for her own safety, to marry Jamie Fraser. Outlander is about many things, but running through them all is Claire dealing with the love she has for both Frank and Jamie, further complicated by the presence of one of Frank’s ancestors, Jack Randall, a less than likable fellow.

Outlander airs on Starz on Saturdays at 9 p.m.

[Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images]

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