Stars of the fantasy drama “Outlander” got to stretch their legs outside of Scotland during the production of Season 3, which bows Sept. 10 on Starz.
The journey to Jamaica to film sea-faring scenes on stationary ship sets was a nice detour for cast and producers. The “Outlander” team was on hand Friday at the Television Critics Assn. press tour to talk up the broad scope of the third season, which encompasses the 20-year separation of central characters Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) from the 1940s through the 1960s.
The “Outlander” book series by Diana Gabaldon jumps through time and locations in such a robust way as to keep the show incredibly vital, Balfe said.
Anyone who has read Diana’s books knows it’s just a sequence of twists and turns. You’re constantly being kept on your toes. Who would have thought we’d end up on ships and in Jamaica this season.
~ Caitriona Balfe
Outlander exec producer Maril Davis said the production traveled to Jamaica with ease thanks to the experience Starz had shooting its pirate drama “Black Sails” on the island. Although the ships used were not actually on the water, a big storyline for the season demanded a different look than the Scottish highlands.
Scotland can pass for a lot of places, but Jamaica is not one of those places.
~ Maril Davis