'Outlander' season 3 spoilers: Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan update fans on the period drama's production
It has been almost six months since "Outlander" closed its second chapter with Claire (Caitriona Balfe), now in the 1960s, finding out that Jamie (Sam Heughan) actually survived the Battle of Culloden. That in itself lends a multitude of possibilities carrying over to the next season of the period drama including the much-awaited reunion of the star-crossed lovers.
Mined from the events of Diana Gabaldon's third novel from the "Outlander" series, "Voyager," the historical drama is once again changing gears while still brilliantly using time lapse for storytelling. It is no secret that Jamie and Claire will eventually team up sometime in the season, but leading to and after that, a lot of stories that will hone the franchise are also lined up.
For Balfe, she shares that she is most excited to travel to South Africa which presumably will stand in as Jamaica, which originally was the setting of the latter part of the novel.
"I'm really looking forward to filming in South Africa," the actress when she and Heughan sat with Entertainment Tonight Online during a recent exclusive set visit to Scotland. "I'm really looking forward to that part of the story and also being in a new place. It's going to be fun."
As for the Scottish thespian, he adds that he just can't wait for "Outlander" fans to see what they have been working on relentlessly over the last couple of months. Especially so when he feels that they were really able to nail the narrative season this time.
"And for people to see [the new season,]" Heughan chimed. "I'm really proud of this season so far. I think it's been very strong and different and the stories are great, so I'm excited for the fans to see it."
Prior to the interview, the folks over at Starz released a promo still to Entertainment Weekly featuring Claire and Frank (Tobias Menzies) when the former has just given birth to Brianna. Taking in the timeline, the snap was sometime just a couple of months after a pregnant Claire came back via the Craigh na Dun rocks before the Battle of Culloden further heats up. Spoilers have already revealed that "Outlander" season 3 will be establishing Jamie's and his time-travelling wife's separate lives for two decades before their much-awaited get-together. That includes Claire's life across the pond raising their daughter with her first husband.
"Outlander" season 3 is expected to premiere sometime next year on Starz.