Starz has handed down another early TV show renewal. They’ve ordered a second season of Outlander after just one episode has aired. Season two will likely start airing next year and will have at least 13 episodes.
Here are the renewal details:
STARZ OFFICIALLY GREENLIGHTS “BOOK TWO” OF THE HIT DRAMA SERIES “OUTLANDER”
PREMIERE EPISODE SURPASSES 5 MILLION VIEWS IN FIRST WEEK
Second Season to be at least 13-Episode Run, Based Upon Dragonfly in Amber, Book Two of Diana Gabaldon’s International Bestselling Novels
Beverly Hills, Calif., August 15, 2014 – Starz Chief Executive Officer, Chris Albrecht, announced today that Starz has once again partnered with Sony Pictures Television to greenlight a second season of “Outlander,” the critically-acclaimed original series adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s international bestselling books. Season two will be at least 13-episodes and based upon the second of eight books in the Outlander series, entitled Dragonfly in Amber.
The first 16-episode season of “Outlander,” filmed on location in Scotland, debuted on August 9th, 2014 at 9pm PT/ET, with the first episode setting multiplatform viewing records, surpassing 5 million views in the first week alone, drawing equal male and female viewership (**SOURCE: Starz internal data and Nielsen audience figures as of 8/14/14). Additionally, the series premiere marked a notable media and social media success for the network, with fans hosting viewing parties around the country. It was No. 1 in Nielsen Ratings for Twitter conversation volume among all television series on premiere day, trended twice at No. 2 in U.S. Twitter Trends (**SOURCE: Sysomos).
“The overwhelming support ‘Outlander’ has received from the fans, viewers and critics made the decision for us to go ahead with the second book a very easy one. Diana Gabaldon has given us years of great drama. With an incredible artist such as Ronald D. Moore at the helm and a cast as spectacular as this, we look forward to continue this spell-binding journey with Claire, Jamie, Frank, Brianna, Roger and everybody over the centuries,” said Albrecht.
Creator Ronald D. Moore said “I’m thrilled at the prospect of doing another season of this show for STARZ. This project has been a labor of love from the very beginning and it’s incredibly gratifying to see it succeed with viewers and critics alike.”
“Fans of the Outlander books have waited a long time to see this incredible story brought to life on screen, and Ron and his team have delivered a show that exceeds expectations,” said Zack Van Amburg, President of Programming for Sony Pictures Television. “We look forward to our continued partnership with Starz to present the next chapter of this epic tale to longtime fans and viewers who are just discovering the series.”
The series adaptation for “Outlander” was developed by Ronald D. Moore (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation”). Moore is best known for his work on “Battlestar Galactica,” which won him a Peabody Award in 2006. Ronald D. Moore and Jim Kohlberg are executive producers of “Outlander,” which is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Story Mining and Supply Company and Left Bank Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Diana Gabaldon’s eight-book series has sold more than 20 million copies and has graced the New York Times Best Sellers list six times. The “Outlander” series spans the genres of romance, science fiction, history, and adventure in one grandiose tale. It follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate affair is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.
What do you think? Do you like the Outlander series? Do you think it should have been renewed or cancelled instead?
I think I have seen all the Outlanders to date. But on my Starz programing guide there appears to be no episode 3. Has anyone else encountered this problem? I watched all the episodes again when Starz did a catch of nite and per the guide there was on episode 3. But back to back they all made sense.
I love the show, read most of the books and feel they did a great casting job. I’m a big fan.
LOVE the show. Read the books 3 tines and listen ed to the 2x. The shows are exceptional. Can’t wait to see each episode.
Awesome first episode! I’ve read all the books and am thrilled there will be a season 2. It is such a good series I’m excited for 8 all seasons right up to the last book in print now, “Written in my own hearts blood” and beyond! Keep them coming!
I have read all her books on outlanger twice can not get enough of clair jamie what a GREAT WRITER,
My family is so happy for me. They were tired of me trying to tell them the story. Now they can see it with me. Thanks starz.
Brilliant news but not unexpected as the excerpts I have seen so far on the web have definitely captured the essence that is outlander far better than I thought possible.
Well done RON ,SAM,CAT , TOBIAS and All THE WONDERFUL CAST AND CREW.
Now please let the top brass at the UK broadcast companies get off their backsides and get this series on our T.V.s. A.S.A.P.!!!
Yeah – I have a huge collection of Diana Gabaldon Book (can’t go past a second hand book of hers – because they need to be read by someone who will love them). I just hope that the long wait we have had does not equate to the LOOOONNNNG wait we have between books. I watched the premier and initially looking for corrilations with the book and noting what had been left out, then Jamie got into an arguement with Claire about whether she was going to escape, ot risk him hurting himself even more. That smile and scottish burr… Read more »
I have read all the books (several times each :)), and I am a huge fan. I am really enjoying the TV series. It’s so great to actually “see” the castles, the lands, the people, Scotland. I think that the actors playing Jamie and Claire are very good. I do have a vision in my mind of what each of them looks like and how they act, and I’m not sure anyone would ever fit my vision (or anyone else’s for that matter) precisely, but they came very close with these two… although I did picture Claire just a bit… Read more »
I’m loving everything about this intelligent, riveting show!
When will you have the viewership and social media numbers for Episode 102, Castle Leoch? I think the second episode was even better than the first one!!
As I live in Cananda we have to wait till August 24 the to see the first episode I have been waiting for ever to see this I have throughly enjoyed reading all the Outlander series books and I have my TV set to record can’t wait!!!
poI’m very impressed at the quality of the series so far and very glad to see STARZ renew for a second season. However I am somewhat confused by the premise for the second season. Dragonfly in Amber is perhaps the most pivotal book because much of how Jamie thinks and acts is based on the lead up to the second rising, culminating in Culloden and sending a pregnant Claire back through the stones. Based on the press releases it sounds as if the series intends to compress two possibly three books. I understand there has to be some adjustments for… Read more »
So wonderful!!!
Wonderful cast and wonderful the way they have taken this story from the written word and portrayed it on film. No easy task and and a job superbly done,
I love seeing “Outlander” on the screen! I watched it about 4 or 5 times already, and invited friends over to watch it—they, plus my hubby, enjoyed it too. Very happy indeed there will be another season of rich scenery, great acting, and passionate love scenes! All the characters are well-chosen. A huge undertaking and a superb job by everyone involved. There’s something about Scotland that seems to plant amazing seeds. We travelled there several years ago and I became inspired to write my own novel, which won two awards; one of them was at the NY Book Festival, where… Read more »
So, happy to hear that they have already renewed for a second season !! I have loved reading all the books and now I will be enjoying Starz series of the “The Outlander” .
All I can say is Yippee!!