It might not be outlandish to say that Starz has full religion in “Outlander.” Not solely is the tentpole sequence gearing up for its closely anticipated closing episodes subsequent 12 months, however the fantasy interval drama is even getting a prequel to carry audiences over till then.
“Outlander: Blood of My Blood” premiered Monday night time on the Administrators’ Guild of America theater advanced in Hollywood, full with a bagpipe-filled purple carpet and an immersive, interactive fan expertise. Plus, unique sequence stars Graham McTavish and Sam Heughan had been in attendance to assist welcome the brand new forged into the household.
“Once we began doing this, we had no conception in any respect. You reside in a little bit of a bubble whenever you’re making it, you’re not conscious of what’s happening or what to anticipate. Once we began, we simply bonded collectively, hoped for one of the best and now 11 years later, right here we’re,” McTavish mentioned of the spinoff, by which Sam Retford takes over as his character Dougal MacKenzie. “I suggested Sam, what I wished him to do was discover the tender and delicate facet of Dougal, which was not lined within the unique. However he’s his personal man, and he’s a stunning one at that.”
In the meantime, showrunner Matthew B. Roberts defined the draw of creating a prequel – particularly one which has already been renewed for a second season forward of its sequence premiere.
“This opens up the universe, it opens up our potential to inform tales. Each story all the time needed to come again to Jamie and Claire in ‘Outlander.’ With this, it doesn’t essentially have to do this,” he shared. “There’s so many characters in ‘Blood of My Blood,’ that we will comply with them and see the place they go — they don’t need to all the time be hooked up to Ellen, Brian, Julia or Henry.”
And whereas Season 8 of “Outlander” is about to be its final … you by no means actually know what the longer term might maintain, because the EP teased: “We’ve had folks die on the present a number of instances that maintain coming again and coming again, so by no means say by no means. You don’t know. There’s one other e book popping out.”
Naturally, writer Diana Gabaldon was additionally in attendance, as had been new Outlander Universe additions Harriet Slater, Jamie Roy, Tony Curran, Conor MacNeill, Rory Alexander, Séamus McLean Ross, Hermione Corfield and Retford (Jeremy Irvine was not current).
“We wouldn’t have Jamie with out Brian and Ellen. So coming into one thing like this present that has a longtime fandom — not only a fandom, however passionate followers. I imply, you’ve seen them, they know how one can social gathering. It’s been nice, the help has been superb. I simply really feel so fortunate and privileged,” Roy gushed. “It’s very rewarding. I’m a giant fantasy fan, so attending to fake that you simply’re dwelling within the 18th Century is fairly unimaginable. And so they do a great job of it — the costumes, the units, all the pieces — that whenever you get to work, you are feeling such as you’re truly a Highland warrior.”
“The romance is a big a part of the story and it’s a enjoyable half to inform. I feel it’s crucial to the story of Brian and Ellen, and each intimate scene that we do furthers that story,” Slater added. “It’s a love story at its coronary heart, and people are my favourite sorts of tales to inform and to look at.”
The premiere screening occasion additionally featured collectible flower crowns, a photograph op with The Lounge Sales space and a tasting of Heughan’s Sassenach blended scotch whisky, whereas the afterparty at Bar Marmont included elaborate décor and references to the present, handed apps, open bars with much more Sassenach Spirits, branded matchbooks and, in fact, a cleverly positioned typewriter.
“Outlander: Blood of My Blood” premieres Aug. 8 on Starz.
