At this year’s Comic-Con, Outlander‘s cast and creators gave us more insight into Season 3, including a surprise world premiere! Check out our round-up post and 30+ exclusive images below.
Sassenachs, you know how, ahead of this year’s Comic-Con, STARZ released a new trailer for Outlander Season 3? And we speculated about what the cast and creators attending the SDCC panel could possibly do to top that, especially with an hour and a half of time?
Actress, dancer, and fellow Sassenach Jenna Dewan Tatum kicked things off by introducing the latest trailer and then bringing everyone out on stage.
Ron Moore (executive producer), Maril Davis (executive producer), Diana Gabaldon (author), Caitriona Balfe (Claire Randall Fraser), Sam Heughan (Jamie Fraser), Tobias Menzies (Black Jack Randall/Frank Randall), Sophie Skelton (Brianna Randall) and Richard Rankin (Roger Wakefield) all attended the panel.
Ron and Maril talked about filming Season 3, sharing that it was challenging but fun to film the cross-Atlantic sailing scenes, though it took almost four months in South Africa. Maril agreed, saying the transition from Scotland to South Africa was tough, especially in terms of the weather. There were lots of pale legs!
Diana revealed that she didn’t write an episode for the upcoming season, but she did visit the South African set.
Tobias talked about getting back to playing Frank Randall in Season 3, and looking forward to unpacking Claire’s life with him in Boston. As previously reported (unlike in the books), the TV show depicts the encounter at Culloden between Jamie and Black Jack Randall at the beginning of the season. Both Sam and Tobias shared that the gravitas of that history did weigh on them while filming. Still, according to Tobias, the scene will surprise fans.
According to Cait, Season 3 will be much more about Claire’s day to day life through the 20 year separation from Jamie. The big questions defining Claire’s journey include trying to understand how time weighs on a person and how someone can learn to live with grief.
But the trailer already teased the Claire/Jamie reunion. When asked about filming the iconic printshop scene, Cait revealed that Matt B. Roberts wrote the script, while Sam said that the reunion “would almost make a man faint…” (I’m taking this as a *major* hint!)
Jenna introduced a fun game of “Truth or Dance”, where (if given a question), cast members would have the choice to answer truthfully or do a dance!
Cait was asked whether, for a kissing scene, would she pick Sam or Tobias? Cait decided to dance an adorable jig!
Sam was asked about his last date night, and instead decided to dance. Jenna joined in the fun too.
When was Sam's last date night? @SamHeughan decided to dance! #Outlander #SDCC pic.twitter.com/fA5Mib16ua
— We So Nerdy (@WeSoNerdy) July 22, 2017
Tobias was asked to name the best tennis player on the cast? He answered and said he was the best.
Sophie was asked what was it like to go through the stones this season? Of course this was a trick question… and she decided to dance.
Finally, Rik Rankin was asked, out of the whole cast, who would he rather be trapped in an elevator with? Rik danced!
The panel wrapped up with two MAJOR surprises. First, Graham McTavish (Dougal MacKenzie) took a break from his Preacher duties to crash the Outlander panel. Not one to be outdone, Graham danced too!
Annnnnnnd of course @grahammctavish has to dance! ???????? #Outlander #SDCC pic.twitter.com/pWNuroZxS7
— We So Nerdy (@WeSoNerdy) July 22, 2017
And the most EPIC surprise of all… everyone in Ballroom 20 was treated to the world premiere of Season 3’s first episode. Yes, I screamed and cried and almost passed out… and this was even before the episode actually started!
After airing a new recap video, highlighting footage from Seasons 1 and 2 (which you can watch below!), “The Battle Joined” began. It was tragic, agonizing, and absolutely brilliant!
Keep an eye out for my non-spoilery review coming soon…
In the mean time, check out 30 exclusive images from the panel, plus you can watch the full panel below.
Outlander returns on Sunday, September 10 at 8pm ET|PT.