Outlander season 5: Everything you need to know

From Digital Spy

Note: Contains spoilers for all five seasons of Outlander.

The fourth season of Outlander wrapped up back in January this year, which means fans of the show are champing at the bit for something new – and we can confirm that fresh episodes are on their way, US network Starz announcing that season five is in the works, and there will be a sixth further down the line.

The drama series, which is based on Diana Gabaldon's books of the same name, follows Claire Randall, a nurse living during the Second World War, who travels back in time to Scotland 1743, during the Jacobite risings – and it's there that she meets and falls in love with highlander Jamie Fraser.

But what can fans expect from season five?

Outlander season 5 release date: When will it be out?

Outlander season five started filming in February 2019, and is likely to take around eight months.

So we're looking at a 2020 premiere date, possibly January or February. But with season four airing two months later than expected, don't expect that timeline to stick.

Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy back in May, Balfe and Heughan revealed that they were taking a longer break than usual as they were both committed to other projects.

"We have an extended hiatus, we have about seven months off," Caitriona told us at the BAFTA TV Awards.

So if you wanted to rewatch all four seasons and refresh any details you might have missed, it's more than doable.

Outlander season 5 plot: what's going to happen?

A number of key details about the historical time-travel romance can be found on Gabaldon's official website, and according to the fifth book, The Fiery Cross, on which season five is based, this is what viewers can expect…

"Set against the War of the Regulation in North Carolina (the first tax-payer's rebellion in the American colonies, and a precursor to the full-blown Revolution), the story deals with Jamie Fraser's efforts to protect his family, build a community on Fraser's Ridge, and keep his land."

Claire, who is described as being both a help and a hindrance to Jamie, will become the "conjure-woman"/healer for the Ridge.

Then there's their daughter Brianna, "whose 20th-century inventiveness may possibly kill them all", as well as her partner Roger MacKenzie, who Jamie is described as having a "rather wary relationship with" following a devastating turn of events involving Brianna and Stephen Bonnet, a pirate and all-round despicable fellow – so expect the strain caused by that destructive event to linger in the fifth chapter.

The show's official synopsis, which was recently revealed by Starz, confirms show developer Ronald Moore's desire to keep in step with the books: "Establishing a home in the New World is by no means an easy task – and protecting it proves even more difficult – particularly in the wild backcountry of North Carolina during a period of dramatic sociopolitical upheaval.

"As Claire knows all too well, friends, neighbours and countrymen are unwittingly marching towards Revolution, with members of the elite ruling classes struggling to stifle the alarming undercurrent of unrest triggered by the Regulator Movement.

"Against this backdrop, which soon heralds the birth of the new American nation, Claire and Jamie are forced to ask themselves just how far they are willing to go to protect their home, and praying there will be no reason to light the fiery cross, an ancient Scottish call to arms."

Speaking to Parade about what fans can expect from Jamie in the next chapter, Sam Heughan said: "As we saw in season four, Jamie's on the side of the Redcoats. He's made this deal with the Redcoats, the British Army, so he's actually on the opposite side of the side where his allegiance really is and his loyalty lies, but he knows he needs to do it.

He needs to do it for his family and for his tenants. He has to secure this land and make it a safe place for them, so he goes in league with the British. For Jamie, that's a pretty hard thing to do."

Outlander season 5 cast: Who's coming back?

Starz released a statement in which president and CEO Chris Albrecht confirmed that the two central characters would be returning, saying: "Fans can rest assured their beloved Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Heughan) will be back facing new challenges, adversaries and adventures in seasons five and six as we delve into American history and continue the story of the Frasers as they settle in the New World."

And during an appearance at the Television Critics Association Press Tour, Albrecht revealed that they had no plans whatsoever to do away with the pair. "Our biggest concern is making sure that we don't kill Caitriona and Sam along the way," he said.

The network also confirmed that Sophie Skelton would be returning as Brianna. She engaged in a spot of time-travel in season four, so could we see more of that in the future?

"The path that she takes to make that journey is very different than the path that Claire took," executive producer Ronald D Moore told ELLE.

"She goes for a different purpose, and in a different way than Claire did."

And we'll also see Richard Rankin back as Oxford academic and Brianna's other half, Roger.

Cesar Domboy confirmed that he will be back on the scene as the brothel-born French emigré, Fergus, and other returning characters include Marsali (Lauren Lyle), Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix), Lizzie (Caitlin O'Ryan), Ian (John Bell), North Carolina governor William Tryon (Tim Downie), Jocasta (Maria Doyle Kennedy), Gerald (Billy Boyd), Gayle (Simona Brown), and Phaedre (Natalie Simpson).

Ed Speleers (Eragon, Downton Abbey), who played rapist Stephen Bonnet, was thrown in jail at the end of season four – so it remains to be seen whether he will return.

There's also speculation that Tobias Menzies could return as Frank Randall/Black Jack Randall.

He might be dead, but screenwriter Ronald Moore told ELLE that "there's a chance you might see Frank again".

"It's hard because obviously Frank is dead," added executive producer Maril Davis. "But you know what, certainly in the book anyway, we always see flashbacks of Claire's relationship with Frank. We love that."

And naturally, we're holding out for more Rollo the dog.

Outlander season 5 trailer: When can we see it?

All's quiet on the Western front at the moment, but we'll pop it right here for your viewing pleasure when it lands.

Expect more of the same.

Outlander season 5 episodes: How many should we expect?

It's been confirmed that both season five and six will have 12 episodes each and are set to air on a weekly basis – Starz in the US and Amazon Prime Video in the UK.

That's one fewer episode than seasons two, three and four.

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