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outlander_forumIs it too early to talk about season 4? Well, with no new episode this Sunday, we need to talk about something, right? I will try to keep this as general as possible, but be aware that if you've not read the 4th book in the series, Drums of Autumn, there may be some mild spoilers here.
Location, location, location! Season 4 is based on the 4th book by Diana Gabaldon, Drums of Autumn. This one takes place primarily in the colonies, specifically North Carolina. While many US-based Outlander fans were hoping this would mean production would shift from Scotland to the US, it was announced earlier this year that they would be filming in Scotland. However, more recently, Ron D. Moore mentioned that some filming would likely also take place in "Eastern Europe". This doesn't surprise me -- while it does snow in Scotland, they don't get the amounts of snow that are referenced in the novel, and I think the crew is looking for more properly mountainous areas to film some of the outdoor action. What hasn't been mentioned by anyone (to my knowledge) is what they plan to do about ship scenes. A couple of characters undertake sea journeys in DofA -- will they return to South Africa for that or make do with mostly interior shots?
Production has started. The cast held their first table read last week, which means that filming on episodes one and two is underway or about to get underway. The main scriptwriters got to work on season 4 almost as soon as work on season 3 finished and Terry Dresbach, the costume designer, has been at work on season 4 outfits for longer than that. Location scouting has been underway for several weeks as well.
Casting: There are several new characters in season 4 -- some who will have recurring roles over future seasons (assuming there are future seasons -- fingers crossed). One key one, Stephen Bonnet, is likely in episode 401, so that role must have been cast some time ago.It may have gone to English actor Simon Cotton, who apparently tweeted that he had joined the cast of Outlander playing a nasty person, but he subsequently deleted the tweet. Outlander publicists tend to hold off on making official casting announcements, so it might be some time before we know for sure who is playing Bonnet, and who has been cast in some of the other major new roles. The only casting announcement we've had for season 4 was announced back in May, and that's for the role of Rollo. See the next post for a casting update!
And what about Murtagh? The BIG change from the book in season 3 (at least thus far) was Murtagh not being killed at Culloden and ending up shipped off to the colonies. General speculation, as of yet not confirmed by the producers, is that Murtagh may replace another book character, Duncan Innes. Book Jamie meets Duncan in Ardsmuir prison, and we know that didn't happen in the show. Duncan's character could still appear in the show -- Jamie is reunited with him in Edinburgh as Duncan was not shipped off to the colonies because he is missing an arm and thus wouldn't be a very good labourer. So they could still introduce the character in episodes 306 or 307. Also, assuming Murtagh survived the sea journey to the colonies, the term of indenture in the show was extended from 7 years (in the book) to 14 years. That's bound to complicate things. Jamie and Claire arrive in the colonies around 1766-7. Had the term of indenture been 7 years, Murtagh would be free by 1763-4. But with a 14-yr indenture term, he wouldn't be free until about 1770-1771.
Bree and Roger will have major story lines. Drums of Autumn is the first book that really expands the narrative beyond the Claire-Jamie focus. Both Bree and Roger have major stories of their own in DofA, and so we will be seeing a lot more of both characters in season 4 than we have in season 3. Both Richard Rankin and Sophie Skelton have repeatedly stated in interviews and on social media that they are actively looking forward to taking on the challenges their characters face going forward.
Location, location, location! Season 4 is based on the 4th book by Diana Gabaldon, Drums of Autumn. This one takes place primarily in the colonies, specifically North Carolina. While many US-based Outlander fans were hoping this would mean production would shift from Scotland to the US, it was announced earlier this year that they would be filming in Scotland. However, more recently, Ron D. Moore mentioned that some filming would likely also take place in "Eastern Europe". This doesn't surprise me -- while it does snow in Scotland, they don't get the amounts of snow that are referenced in the novel, and I think the crew is looking for more properly mountainous areas to film some of the outdoor action. What hasn't been mentioned by anyone (to my knowledge) is what they plan to do about ship scenes. A couple of characters undertake sea journeys in DofA -- will they return to South Africa for that or make do with mostly interior shots?
Production has started. The cast held their first table read last week, which means that filming on episodes one and two is underway or about to get underway. The main scriptwriters got to work on season 4 almost as soon as work on season 3 finished and Terry Dresbach, the costume designer, has been at work on season 4 outfits for longer than that. Location scouting has been underway for several weeks as well.
Casting: There are several new characters in season 4 -- some who will have recurring roles over future seasons (assuming there are future seasons -- fingers crossed). One key one, Stephen Bonnet, is likely in episode 401, so that role must have been cast some time ago.
And what about Murtagh? The BIG change from the book in season 3 (at least thus far) was Murtagh not being killed at Culloden and ending up shipped off to the colonies. General speculation, as of yet not confirmed by the producers, is that Murtagh may replace another book character, Duncan Innes. Book Jamie meets Duncan in Ardsmuir prison, and we know that didn't happen in the show. Duncan's character could still appear in the show -- Jamie is reunited with him in Edinburgh as Duncan was not shipped off to the colonies because he is missing an arm and thus wouldn't be a very good labourer. So they could still introduce the character in episodes 306 or 307. Also, assuming Murtagh survived the sea journey to the colonies, the term of indenture in the show was extended from 7 years (in the book) to 14 years. That's bound to complicate things. Jamie and Claire arrive in the colonies around 1766-7. Had the term of indenture been 7 years, Murtagh would be free by 1763-4. But with a 14-yr indenture term, he wouldn't be free until about 1770-1771.
Bree and Roger will have major story lines. Drums of Autumn is the first book that really expands the narrative beyond the Claire-Jamie focus. Both Bree and Roger have major stories of their own in DofA, and so we will be seeing a lot more of both characters in season 4 than we have in season 3. Both Richard Rankin and Sophie Skelton have repeatedly stated in interviews and on social media that they are actively looking forward to taking on the challenges their characters face going forward.
