‘Outlander’ by Diana Gabaldon May Finally Hit Screen

July 18, 2012 at 8:49 am , by Kristen Kemp

Finally! After 20 years, Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling Outlander series has a good chance of hitting the screen. What’s Outlander you say? Only the book you must pick up now if you never have. Forget that it’s 21 years old; it’s required reading for bookworms. It’s a wondrous swirl of history, romance, time travel, hot men, passion, deception, war, witchcraft, intrigue and more. This book does it all in 688 sharply written pages. I picked it up last summer and wished it would never end.  Luckily, the series contains seven books with an eighth, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, due out early next year.

Outlander is about a plucky nurse, Claire, who’s reconnecting with her doting husband after World World II in 1947. They visit Scotland on a romantic trip when she finds herself accidentally swept through a stone circle and sent back to 1743. The Highland Scots, embroiled in a bitter battle with the British, take Claire in. Then she meets on of the best male characters ever created: James Fraser. She is forced to marry him, and their fight to stay alive begins. The biggest question is, will she go back to 1947 when she has the chance? Oh, it’s delicious.

So yesterday Sony Pictures TV closed a deal for the rights to the series. Battlestar Galactica executive producer Ron Moore will write the adaptation, according to Deadline. The team will take the project to cable television networks this week.

This could be great. Who will play Claire? Jamie? And the evil Jack Randall? I hope the producers and writers can make this happen and do the series justice. They have taken on a daunting and magical task. This TV show could be fantastic–I’m not even going to think about the word flop.

In the meantime, seriously read the book. Here’s a fan-made trailer to give you a sneak peak into author Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant and fascinating Outlander world.

1. by Dcorneal

   On July 18, 2012 at 9:15 am

   Oh, I am so excited!!! I’ve been giving this book to people for over a decade and only met one person who didn’t love it (she’s dead to me now). But can anyone really do Jamie justice? Let the casting games begin!

2. by Suzanah

   On July 18, 2012 at 9:22 am

   This post has perfect timing. I’m looking for another summer read. Sounds fab. Thanks so much!

3. by Elisa

   On July 18, 2012 at 9:47 am

   I wish I liked the book more. I have so many friends obsessed with it. But I’m excited about the movie. Thanks for this post, Kristen!

4. by Patti

   On July 18, 2012 at 10:25 am

   I too am SO excited and it would be great to see this come to life. I hope they don’t cheese it up too much. Also, I really really really can’t wait for the 8th book.

5. by TraceyEsq

   On July 18, 2012 at 10:57 am

   ooh. i’ve long thought about who would be able to play the highly competent Jamie Fraser. Every now and again and young, handsome, red-headed bloke comes across my screen and i shoot the picture on over to my good friend DC for thoughts on whether, finally, he might be “the one”. i dunno who could do clare right, though.

6. by Erin

   On July 18, 2012 at 10:59 pm

   I can’t wait! I just finished reading the 7th book a few months ago. I’ve not been able to get into another series! I can’t wait for the next book!!

   I think Kevin McKidd would make the perfect Jamie. Drool!