'Outlander' TV series casts its romantic leads
The 鈥淥utlander鈥� TV series that鈥檚 coming from Starz has found its two leads to play Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall.
Actor Sam Heughan, who starred in the the 2011 movie 鈥淓mulsion鈥� and the 2010 film 鈥淵oung Alexander the Great,鈥� will portray the Scottish man who lives in the 18th century. The role of Claire Randall, a World War II nurse who travels back in time, will be played by Caitriona Balfe, recently appeared in the film 鈥淣ow You See Me鈥� and the 2011 movie 鈥淪uper 8.鈥�
鈥淥utlander鈥� author Diana Gabaldon expressed enthusiasm for both casting choices on . Of Heughan, she wrote, 鈥淚 am UTTERLY delighted to confirm that Sam Heughan is cast as Jamie Fraser.鈥� After the news of Balfe鈥檚 casting was announced, she tweeted, 鈥淪he's Irish, but does a _perfect_ English accent. I saw the audition tapes. Perfect!鈥�
After a fan asked her if she saw Balfe and Heughan audition together, Gabaldon wrote, 鈥淚 did! They were both fabulous--but together they just lit it up!鈥�
Other actors who have been announced for the project include 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� actor Tobias Menzies as Frank, Claire鈥檚 present-day husband (and his ancestor), and actor Gary Lewis as Colum MacKenzie, Jamie鈥檚 uncle.
The show is expected to debut in 2014.聽
The 鈥淥utlander鈥� novels center on Claire, who travels back in time via a stone circle in Scotland. The series currently consists of seven books and the next, 鈥淲ritten in My Own Heart鈥檚 Blood,鈥� is due to be released this March.
