STARZ will soon open up an entirely new world of Outlander to the devout fans of the beloved series. A prequel series to the flagship series, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, will officially arrive on Friday, August 8, and with it will come new characters and new stories for audiences to get invested in. Central to the story in the highly anticipated prequel series will be Claire’s parents, Julia Moriston (Hermione Corfield) and Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine), and also, Jaime’s parents, Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater) and Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy). Looking ahead to the prequel’s premiere, show creator Matthew B. Roberts has revealed which character is likely to become a fan-favorite.
Among the new and familiar faces which Outlander: Blood of My Blood will introduce is Jaime Fraser’s (Sam Heughan) grandfather, Simon Fraser, a.k.a. Lord Lovat (Tony Curran). This is not the first time the character has been featured in the Outlander franchise, as Simon Fraser had previously appeared in Season 2 of the flagship series as an older man. Looking ahead to the show’s premiere this summer, Roberts reveals to Entertainment Weekly that Lord Lovat will be “a fan favorite” when he arrives. “Lord Lovat is going to be a fan favorite,” predicts Roberts. “What Tony Curran brings to Lord Lovat is this believability. You want to wrap your arms around him — you love him so much, and then as soon as your arms get away, you go, ‘God, I hate that guy!’
Audiences Will Love and Hate Lord Lovat in Equal Measure in ‘Outlander: Blood of my Blood’
As audiences begin to know Simon more, they will discover him to be a willy manipulator. An old fox if you will. Always seeking to manipulate and pull strings in his favor which might not always benefit those closest to him, including his son, Jamie Roy’s Brian. Roberts predicts that it’s the audiences’ realization of who he truly is that’d make them love him and hate him in equal measure. The show’s creator adds:
“I want the fans to leave the episode and go, ‘I hate myself for liking him. And that’s what Tony brings to the character. He makes him so unbelievably lovable to hate. And every scene he jumps out like that. He doesn’t think he’s doing anything wrong ever, but he has to believe that. And Tony grounds that part of the character.”
The first season of Outlander: Blood of My Blood will have 10 episodes, with Outlander author Diana Gabaldon acting as consulting producer. While Roberts serves as show creator, he also serves as showrunner and executive producer alongside Maril Davis and Ronald D. Moore. The show’s ensemble cast also includes Séamus McLean Ross (Payback), Sam Retford (Ackley Bridge), Rory Alexander (Dark Windows), Harry Eaton (Eastenders), and Conor MacNeill (Sinners).
Mark your calendars for the debut episode of Outlander: Blood of My Blood on Friday, August 8.