Outlander star Tobias Menzies is best known for playing the part of both historian Frank Randall and his ancestor Captain ‘Black Jack’ Randall in the hit Starz series.
However, fans might not realise he could have potentially had another part to play in the drama.
Previously speaking on the official Outlander podcast, executive producer Ronald D. Moore said: “When they’re at Versailles, Jamie and Claire see Alex [Randall] across the way.
“Claire actually faints because she thinks it’s Jack because they’re almost identical.
“And I thought you couldn’t go there in the show because we were casting Tobias as both Jack and Frank.
“Somebody asked at one point, ‘Will you cast Tobias as Alex as well?’ That’s a bridge too far. You’re not going to get away with it.”
Writer Anne Kenney, who was on the podcast with Moore, added of the casting of Laurence Dobiesz as Alex: “It’s amazing how much he looks like him.”
Moore went on to explain about the casting decision: “Yeah, you can’t go three times. That’s too much, so we just opted to not play that card.
“I think it’s believable. I look at him and think absolutely that could be Tobias’ brother.”
Alex had a big part to play in Outlander season two and showed a very different side to Black Jack, who up until this point was simply a brutal and sadistic character.
Although Menzies wasn’t cast as Alex, both Frank and Black Jack continue to be important characters in Outlander.
Given Frank was Claire Fraser’s (Caitríona Balfe) first husband and also helped to raise her daughter Brianna Mackenzie (Sophie Skelton), he will always hold a place in their hearts.
While Black Jack might be dead, the physical and emotional scars he meted out to Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) still linger.
Despite Black Jack making a further appearance in Diana Gabaldon’s book series Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, the character didn’t make it onto the TV adaptation.
The Crown and Game of Thrones star Menzies previously confirmed he wouldn’t be returning to Outlander for the seventh or final seasons.
He told TV Line in 2024: “What am I allowed to say? It would be great. “[But] no, you will not see me.
“They’re going to bring it home magnificently, I’m sure.”