Outlander: Blood of My Blood cast vs. original characters — a side-by-side look at the prequel se...

As &34;Outlander&34; inches towards its eighth and final season, the Starz prequel hopes to keep the timehopping fantasy romance alive. Outlander: Blood of My B

As "Outlander" inches towards its eighth and final season, the Starz prequel hopes to keep the time-hopping fantasy romance alive.

*Outlander: Blood of My Blood *cast vs. original characters — a side-by-side look at the prequel series

As "Outlander" inches towards its eighth and final season, the Starz prequel hopes to keep the time-hopping fantasy romance alive.

By Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn is a former editor at **. He left EW in 2023.

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Published on August 8, 2025 10:30AM EDT

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Jamie Roy as Brian Fraser and Harriet Slater as Ellen MacKenzie on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'. Credit:

Victoria Will/Starz

- *Outlander: Blood of My Blood* is a new prequel series exploring the dual romances of Claire and Jamie's parents.

- The ensemble cast features several *Outlander* characters in their younger years.

- The first two episodes of the prequel series are now streaming on Starz.

Starz's fiercely beloved romantasy *Outlander* will wrap with its eighth and final season next year. But fret not, Sassenachs, for the franchise will continue via a prequel series, *Outlander: Blood of My Blood*.

*Outlander* co-showrunner Matt Roberts is taking the lead on *Blood of My Blood*. Diana Gabaldon, author of the books that inspired the show, will serve as a consulting producer, while Maril Davis and Ronald D. Moore, who helped shepherd the *Outlander *books to television, will both executive produce.

The story centers on two pairs of lovers, both of whom eventually give birth to the heroes of the franchise's mothership. Jamie Roy and Harriet Slater will play Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie, the parents of *Outlander*'s Jamie (Sam Heughan). Jeremy Irvine and Hermione Corfield, meanwhile, will play Henry Beauchamp and Julia Moriston, the parents of the time-traveling Claire (Caitriona Balfe). The story will pivot between 18th-century Scotland and World War I-era England.

"We are going to [show] not only one great love affair, but two great love affairs and how those parallel love stories intertwine and show us how we got to Jamie and Claire," Davis previously told **. "And along the way we're going to see the family dynamics of three different clans and see an amazing, rollicking adventure."**

Ready to meet the cast of the *Outlander* prequel? Get to know the actors and the characters they're portraying below. Since you'll recognize many of them as younger versions of *Outlander* favorites, we've also offered side-by-side glimpses of the prequel's players with their counterparts on the OG series.**

Jamie Roy as Brian Fraser

Jamie Roy as Brian Fraser on 'Blood of My Blood'; Andrew Whipp as Brian Fraser on 'Outlander'.

Jamie Roy will lead the *Outlander* prequel as Brian Fraser, who goes on to father *Outlander*'s Jamie. In *Blood of My Blood*, we see Brian as a young man born out of wedlock to Lord Lovat (Tony Curran) and Davina Porter (Sara Vickers), the latter a maid in Lord Lovat's employ. The character was played in sporadic appearances on *Outlander* by Andrew Whipp.

Funny enough, Roy was nearly cast in *Outlander*, but his resemblance to Heughan gave the producers pause. "All the writers and I were like, 'Wow, he looks a lot like Sam. That's so weird. Maybe we should hold him for the prequel,'" said Davis during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con.

Speaking to the character, Roy added, "We really wanted Brian to be his own man, which was great because it freed me from any expectations or pressures. I could find Brian naturally... I didn't really study Sam's performance as much, but I've been told we're quite similar in personalities."**

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A relative newcomer, the Scottish actor previously starred in a handful of films, including *Flowers and Honey* (2021), *Condor's Nest* (2023), and *Meeting You, Meeting Me* (2024).**

Harriet Slater as Ellen MacKenzie

Harriet Slater as Ellen MacKenzie on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'.

Harriet Slater costars as Jamie's mother, Ellen MacKenzie, whose specter hangs over *Outlander* despite us never seeing her. The eldest child of Jacob and Anne MacKenzie, she is the older sister of Colum and Dougal. Her being a MacKenzie complicates her romance with Brian, as their families are longtime enemies.

"It's very much a Romeo-and-Juliet situation they've got going on," Slater said of Ellen and Brian's relationship at Comic-Con. "[When] we first meet, we have no idea. They just really fancy each other, and then they meet on the bridge and discover that they're from rival clans, which is not good news."**

That family dynamic, added showrunner Roberts, is key to the prequel's story. "It's not only rival clans, but it's rivals within your own clan."

A stage veteran, Slater made her screen debut on *Pennyworth* (2019–2022), and has since appeared in Hollywood films like *Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny* (2023) and *Tarot* (2024). Most recently, she led the historical drama *Belgravia: The Next Chapter* (2024) on MGM+.**

Hermione Corfield as Julia Moriston

Hermione Corfield as Julia on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'.

Hermione Corfield stars in *Blood of My Blood *as Julia Moriston, the mother of Balfe's Claire. In *Outlander*, Claire always thought her parents died in a car crash when she was a child. The *Blood of My Blood* trailer teases a different fate, however, revealing that they, too, traveled through time via the standing stones at Craigh Na Dun in the aftermath of their accident.

"We've talked so long about how *Outlander* is the story of Jamie and Claire," Davis told EW. "It does feel like you're missing a big piece of the puzzle if you're not telling her parents' story as well and showing both sides of the coin."**

Like Roy, Corfield was also discovered by the *Outlander* producers while auditioning for a role on the flagship series. In fact, she vied to play Brianna, Jamie and Claire's daughter, a role that eventually went to Sophie Skelton.

"I was 21 , 22," Corfield told EW*. *"I was going to screen test for Brianna, and then it ended up clashing with another job, so I couldn't do it."

"Everyone here has something about them that embodies the original character," Davis added. "They've just stepped in and made it their own."

Corfield has a handful of franchise biggies on her resume, including *Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation* (2015), *XXX: Return of Xander Cage* (2017), and *Star Wars: The Last Jedi* (2017).

She drew acclaim, however, for her leading turn in the 2019 indie *Rust Creek. *The actress also led two seasons of the British crime drama* We Hunt Together* (2022–2023).**

Jeremy Irvine as Henry Beauchamp

Jeremy Irvine as Henry Beauchamp on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'.

Victoria Will/Starz

Jeremy Irvine completes the prequel's romantic quartet as Henry Beauchamp, Claire's father.

In an interview ahead of the premiere, the actor described Henry as "resilient," "quick-witted," and "romantic." He also addressed the show's time travel element, cracking, "I mean you kind of expect it, don't you? It's an *Outlander* show... you're going to have some hot sex scenes and time travel."

Irvine had quite an auspicious start to his career, having been handpicked by Steven Spielberg to star in the 2011 epic *War Horse *alongside* *Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch. He went on to appear in several high-profile projects, including *Great Expectations *(2012), *Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again* (2018), and *Benediction* (2021), as well as the short-lived, *Bourne*-adjacent USA series *Treadstone* (2019).

Irvine will next appear as haunted protagonist James Sunderland in the upcoming *Return to Silent Hill*, a film adaptation of the classic horror game *Silent Hill 2*.**

Peter Mullan as Red Jacob MacKenzie

Harriet Slater as Ellen MacKenzie and Peter Mullan as 'Red Jacob' MacKenzie on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'.

Peter Mullan is Scottish film royalty, making him a perfect fit for ruthless chieftain Red Jacob MacKenzie. Jacob is father to six children — Ellen, Colum, and Dougal among them.

Mullan's early career featured collaborations with U.K. legends like Danny Boyle (*Shallow Grave, Trainspotting*), Ken Loach (*Riff-Raff, My Name Is Joe*), and Michael Winterbottom (*The Claim*). He went on to appear in Oscar-nominated films like Alfonso Cuarón's *Children of Men* (2006) and Steven Spielberg's *War Horse* (2011), in which he starred opposite Irvine.

The actor is equally prolific on the small screen, with notable roles on *Ozark* (2017–2018), *Westworld* (2018–2020), and *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power *(2022–2024). He received an Emmy nomination, among other accolades, for his leading turn on the 2013 murder mystery *Top of the Lake. ***

Tony Curran as Lord Lovat

Tony Curran as Lord Lovat on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'; Clive Russell as Lord Lovat on 'Outlander'.

Victoria Will/Starz; STARZ

Tony Curran will star in *Blood of My Blood* as a character we see only briefly on *Outlander*: Lord Lovat, a.k.a. Simon Fraser, the father of Brian and grandfather of Jamie. On *Outlander*, he was played by Clive Russell.

Interestingly, the character is based on a historical figure with the same name. The real Lord Lovat fought alongside the Scots in the 1746 Battle of Culloden, but was captured the next year and beheaded by British forces.

"Apparently, when Lord Lovat was on the chop, about to be executed, he made some quirk about some English lord, and he was infuriated, and the last thing, apparently, that Lord Lovat was laughing as the axe came down," Curran explained to *Town & Country*. "So when his head tumbled, he was still laughing, and that's where the term 'laughing your head off' comes from."

The Scottish actor has appeared in dozens of films and series over the past three decades, including big-budget franchise entries like *X-Men: First Class* (2011), *Thor: The Dark World* (2013), *Daredevil* (2016), *The Flash* (2021), and *Secret Invasion* (2023).

In recent years, he's appeared on Showtime's *Your Honor* (2020–2023), Starz's *Mary & George* (2024),* *and Netflix's*** **The Bombing of Pan Am 103* (2025).**

Brian McCardie as Isaac Grant

Brian McCardie as Isaac Grant on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'.

Brian McCardie costars on *Blood of My Blood* as Isaac Grant, the leader of a different Highland clan that intersects with the Frasers and MacKenzies. Tragically, the actor died unexpectedly in spring 2024 while production was underway.

"We lost Brian McCardie," producer Roberts told **, clarifying that the role will not be recast*. *"He's Isaac Grant and no one could ever be Isaac Grant other than him. We had planned story for him going forward. If there is going to be season 2, we would've planned story for him because he's just such a powerful character."

Roberts added, "He's the other side of the coin of Lord Lovat. Every scene he was in, he just brought the level up and you just go, 'Oh my god, I want to see more of him.'"

The Scottish actor and writer enjoyed a decades-long career onscreen prior to his passing, playing notable roles in films such as the Oscar-nominated *Rob Roy* (1995) and *The Ghost and the Darkness* (1997). Notable TV credits include *Line of Duty* (2012–2014), *Snatch* (2016), and *The Long Shadow* (2023).**

Rory Alexander as Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser

Rory Alexander as Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'; Duncan Lacroix as Murtagh on 'Outlander'.

Victoria Will/Starz; STARZ

Rory Alexander will play the baby-faced Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser, who was memorably portrayed as a weathered, craggy elder by Duncan Lacroix.

The character's evolution into the hard-edged Murtagh of *Outlander* will be part of the prequel's story, according to Roy. "[*Blood of My Blood*] is about how did Murtagh go from this bright young lad who's got these puppy dog eyes and he's very sweet, to a grumpy old man with such a hardened edge?" he said in an interview with *Metro Philadelphia*.

Alexander began his career on the Swedish Netflix series *Anxious People* (2021) before pivoting to a supporting role on Danny Boyle's *Pistol*, a 2022 FX series about the Sex Pistols. He's also lent his voice to several popular video games, including entries in the *Xenoblade* franchise (2022–2023) and *Elden Ring: Nightreign* (2025).**

Sam Retford as Dougal MacKenzie

Sam Retford as Dougal MacKenzie on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'; Graham McTavish as Dougal on 'Outlander'.

Victoria Will/Starz; STARZ

Sam Retford will play a key role in the *Outlander* prequel as a young Dougal MacKenzie. On *Outlander*, chrome-domed Scot Graham McTavish starred as the MacKenzie Clan war chieftain.

McTavish hilariously crashed *Blood of My Blood*'s Comic-Con panel in July, poking fun at Retford's full head of hair.

"I have a question for Sam," he said. "First of all, congratulations on the wig and the beard. It's so good, and the fact that you wear it out in public is just really tremendous."

Retford was game for the jibes, adding, "I could think of nothing better than showing how [Dougal] developed that rough, calloused skin that you show so well. And just how he lost all of that hair."

Though just 26, Retford has been acting onscreen for more than a decade now, with early career highlights including leading roles on *Hollyoaks: Tom's Life* (2014) and *Ackley Bridge* (2017–2019). He went on to feature on British soap *Coronation Street* (2021) and the BBC One series *Ralph & Katie* (2022).**

Séamus McLean Ross as Colum MacKenzie

Séamus McLean Ross as Colum MacKenzie on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'; Gary Lewis as Colum on 'Outlander'.

Victoria Will/Starz; STARZ

Séamus McLean Ross costars on *Blood of My Blood* as a young Colum MacKenzie, the sickly brother of Ellen and Dougal, who goes on to become laird of the clan. On *Outlander*, he was played by Gary Lewis.

Speaking with *Vogue*, McLean Ross spoke specifically about his scenes with Slater, who plays Ellen. "Harriet breaks my heart when I'm acting with her. It's so hard, because Colum breaks her heart on the show," he said. "He loves her, but he also loves his clan. He's driven by this ambition he doesn't fully understand."

Previously, McLean Ross starred opposite his *Blood of My Blood* costar Mullan on the thriller *Payback* (2023). Later this year, he'll appear in *California Schemin',* a comedic musical biopic that serves as the directorial debut of James McAvoy.**

Conor MacNeill as Ned Gowan

Conor MacNeill as Ned Gowan on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'; Bill Paterson as Ned on 'Outlander'.

Victoria Will/Starz; STARZ

Conor MacNeill appears in *Blood of My Blood* as a young Ned Gowan, the attorney played by Bill Paterson on *Outlander*.

During a virtual press conference (via Three if By Space), MacNeill spoke of playing a younger, more fiery version of Ned. "When we see him towards the end that, you know, he's very wise, and he's an old sage in *Outlander,*" he said. "In this version, you see a fieriness in him that wasn't not necessarily there in the other show. And it's kind of the journey of how he learned to become this sage old man, especially putting up with what these guys put them through, it is gonna speaking universally."

The Irish actor has been a regular presence on film and TV for more than two decades now, and will be familiar to fans of HBO's *Industry* (2020–2024) as the bullying finance bro Kenny Kilbane. He's also worked on several films with actor-turned-filmmaker Kenneth Branagh, including Disney+'s *Artemis Fowl* (2020) and the Oscar-winning *Belfast* (2021).

Most recently, he starred alongside Christopher Abbott and Barry Keoghan in the 2024 Irish thriller *Bring Them Down*.**

Sadhbh Malin as Jocasta MacKenzie

Sadhbh Malin as Jocasta MacKenzie on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'; Maria Doyle Kennedy as Jocasta on 'Outlander'.

Sanne Gault/Starz; Aimee Spinks/Starz

Sadhbh Malin stars in *Blood of My Blood* as the youngest MacKenzie sister, Jocasta. Played by Maria Doyle Kennedy on *Outlander,* fans will recall the feisty character as a plantation owner who was widowed three times over.

Prior to landing the role of Jocasta, Malin appeared in the film* Love, Rosie *(2014) and the Hulu series *Conversations With Friends* (2022).**

Ailsa Davidson as Janet MacKenzie

Ailsa Davidson (right) on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'.

Ailsa Davidson rounds out the MacKenzie children as Janet. While we never see her in *Outlander, *she's the namesake of Jamie's sister.

Davidson is best known for leading the 2022 West End production of *Heathers: The Musical* as Veronica Sawyer, the role played by Winona Ryder in the original film.

Terence Rae as Arch Bug

Terence Rae as Arch Bug on 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood'; Hugh Ross as Arch Bug on 'Outlander'.

Terence Rae will play a younger version of Arch Bug, who was portrayed by Hugh Ross in *Outlander *seasons 5, 6, and 7. In the prequel, he serves as a bodyguard for Clan Grant.

Rae, a stage veteran in the U.K., previously appeared in the acclaimed 2023 film *Black Dog* and the Scottish crime drama *Rebus* (2024).

Where can I watch the Outlander prequel?

The first two episodes of *Outlander: Blood of My Blood* are now streaming on Starz.

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