Outlander's eighth season will pick up after a major cliffhanger from season 7.
The historical drama, which first premiered in 2014, stars Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe as they play the on-screen couple Jamie Fraser and Claire Fraser, respectively. The Starz original series kicked off with Claire, a British Army nurse, learning how to navigate her new normal after she's mysteriously transported from 1945 to 1743.
As the show played out for seven seasons, Claire and Jamie faced different obstacles that also coincided with various historical events. The hit TV show, which is based off the book series of the same name by Diana Gabaldon, will come to a conclusion with season 8.
"For nearly a decade Outlander has won the hearts of audiences worldwide and we're pleased to bring Claire and Jamie's epic love story to a proper conclusion," Kathryn Busby, president of original programming for STARZ said in a statement in January 2023.
The seventh season featured events from the American Revolutionary War while Claire was simultaneously wrongfully convicted of murdering Malva Christie (Jessica Reynolds) and her unborn child. Jamie fought for both the country and Claire's freedom and worked as a sniper for the Americans. Meanwhile, Claire is eventually released from prison because of her medical background and reunites with Jamie at war.
During the final moments of season 7, Claire survives a gunshot wound from the Battle of Monmouth and Jamie stands by her to care for her. The couple learn shocking news when they find out that their daughter, Faith, whom they thought died during childbirth, is alive. Claire discovers the stunning revelation when she hears Faith's daughter, Fanny Pocock (Florrie Wilkinson), singing the same song that Claire sang to Faith.
"It's a huge moment for them to find out that their daughter potentially lived, and now they have this grandchild in their life," Heughan told The Hollywood Reporter in January 2025. "It's a great cliffhanger -- one that I think book and non-book fans are going to be surprised by... It was a shock for us as actors reading it and learning about it, as it was for the characters. I think the thought process for Jamie is, 'How is it possible?' "
In addition to the Faith bombshell, the season also included both Jane (Silvia Presente) and young Ian Fraser Murray's beloved dog, Rollo, dying.
The finale left viewers wondering how Faith survived, how she will relate to Claire and Jamie and how the complicated dynamics of all the families will change with this news.
The eighth and final season of Outlander will be based off the ninth novel in the book franchise, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone (2021), showrunner Maril Davis confirmed to The Direct in November 2024. In addition to season 8 adapting the ninth book, the final season will also encompass parts of the final and tenth book in the franchise, A Blessing for a Warrior Going Out , which has yet to be released.
Gabaldon confirmed in the same interview that the season 8 will include "little pieces of book 10."
Starz has not released an official synopsis for season 8, but the books continue following Jamie and Claire fighting in the American Revolutionary War while dealing with their personal relationships along the way.
The official cast for season 8 of Outlander has not been released. However, the final season will "bring Claire and Jamie's epic love story to a proper conclusion," so Heughan and Balfe reprised their roles.
In addition, Sophie Skelton (Brianna MacKenzie), Richard Rankin (Roger MacKenzie), John Bell (Young Ian), Lauren Lyle (Marsali MacKimmie Fraser) and César Domboy (Fergus Claudel Fraser) are also expected to return.
In October 2024, Sam Heughan confirmed that they had concluded filming the final season and described the final episode as a "rollercoaster."
"We finished two weeks ago," he said during the Happy Sad Confused podcast's 10th-anniversary celebration. "We shot our final episode - eight seasons, 101 episodes, 11 years, and I go back to work on Monday. We have to do a bunch of pickups. So, yeah, it's been a rollercoaster. We're still a long way off. I am just here to promote season seven part two."
After Starz confirmed in 2023 that Outlander would be ending after season 8, the cast gathered for a joint video announcement. "Every good story has to come to an end," Heughan said, while Balfe added, "It always does."
Bell, Skelton and Rankin also appeared in the video and shared their excitement for the final season.
"We're going to go out with a bang, and tell the story how it should be," Bell said. Skelton chimed in to say, "It's not over yet," while Rankin added, "With love and enthusiasm."
Heughan further said," We can't wait to bring the last season to you guys," and Balfe ended the video saying," We hope that we do you proud."
Starz confirmed that season 8 of Outlander will consist of 10 episodes.
The official Outlander season 8 trailer has not been released. However, after season 7 stopped airing in January 2025, Starz released a 15-second teaser. The teaser shows Jamie and Claire looking into each other's eyes, while Jamie tells her, "And the day shall come that we do part. If my last words are not I love you, ye'll ken, it's because I didn't have time."
Although Outlander season 8 wrapped filming in September 2024, an official premiere date has not been announced.
In the meantime, Outlander fans can get their fix of the show in the prequel spinoff, Outlander: Blood of My Blood , which follows the parents of Jamie Fraser , Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater) and Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy) , and Claire Fraser , Julia Moriston (Hermione Corfield) and Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine) . The first season will premiere on Starz on Aug . 8 , 2025 .