Sadly, there is no Outlander movie, as much as we would love one. However, this does not mean there were never any plans for such a thing. Before Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe were in the picture as Jamie and Claire Fraser, there were plans to make Diana Gabaldon’s novel series into a TV movie instead of a series.
According to executive producer Matthew B. Roberts, he passed on the idea when it was first presented to him. He revealed this tidbit during the first episode of the official Outlander podcast earlier this year. As much as we’d love an Outlander movie, words can’t express how relieved I am Roberts intervened.
Roberts explained that his first job in production was as a Script Reader, which is how he got involved in Outlander. “Basically, what you do is read a script, and then you write a coverage on it. Essentially, you give a summary of what’s in the script, and then you do a pass or recommend to read the script. Because a producing company could get hundreds and hundreds of scripts throughout a month and one person can’t read them all.”
"One of the first things that I was tasked to read was a couple of the Outlander books. And I did a pass for this production house because they wanted to make a TV movie. You wouldn’t be able to get the richness the novels in that short of time."
Truer words have never been spoken.
Will there be an Outlander movie?
After realizing how much rich content Outlander contained, Roberts knew it would be better suited for a series rather than a TV movie. He then roped in fellow EP Maril Davis with the idea. “Your office was down the hall and I gave you the books,” he remembered. “And next thing you know, here we are.”
Years later, we may not have an Outlander movie, and perhaps we never will, but fans are more than content with the amazing Starz series.
Be sure to catch the premiere of Outlander season 6 on March 6, 2022 on Starz.
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