Starz Renews Hit Series “Outlander” with “Book Three” and “Book Four” Commitment
Starz Greenlights Two More Books of “Outlander” Based on Diana
Gabaldon’s International Bestselling Novels Voyager
and Drums of Autumn
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Starz Chief Executive Officer Chris Albrecht announced today the network
has ordered “Book Three” and “Book Four” for the Golden Globe®-nominated
STARZ Original series “Outlander,” the critically-acclaimed original
series executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and adapted from Diana
Gabaldon’s international bestselling books. Once again partnering with
Sony Pictures Television, this is the first multi-book pickup for
“Outlander,” assuring the series will run for several more years. The
highly-anticipated second installment of the series premiered on STARZ
in April 2016.
“Book Three” will be based on the third of the eight books in the Outlander
series, entitled Voyager, followed by “Book
Four” based on the fourth book in the series, Drums
of Autumn.
CEO of Starz Chris Albrecht said, “’Outlander’ is like nothing seen
before on television. From its depiction of a truly powerful female lead
character, to the devastating decimation of the Highlander way of life,
to what is a rarely seen genuine and timeless love story, it is a show
that not only transports the viewer, but inspires the passion and
admiration of its fans. On this 25th anniversary of the
publication of the first book in the U.S., we are thrilled and honored
to be able to continue the story that began with author Diana Gabaldon,
and is brought to life by the incredibly talented Ronald D. Moore. There
are no better storytellers for ‘Outlander’ than this team, both in front
and behind the camera.”
“The world of Jamie and Claire is expansive and emotionally complex. The
audience has rewarded ‘Outlander’ with their praise and loyalty, and we
know we will deliver the best seasons yet in the years ahead,” said
Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg , Presidents, U.S. Programming and
Production, Sony Pictures Television. “Starz has been an incredible
partner and has truly helped shape this into one of the most iconic
premiere series on the air today.”
“Outlander” received three 2016 Golden Globe® nominations,
including Best Drama Series, Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting
Actor. Fans recently named “Outlander” the “Most Bingeworthy Show of
2016” at the Critics’ Choice Awards®, as well as Favorite
Cable Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show and Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress for
Caitriona Balfe at the 2016 People’s Choice Awards®. The
series also received a Costume Designers Guild Awards® (CDGA)
nomination this year.
The first 16-episode run of “Outlander,” filmed on location in Scotland,
debuted in August 2014 with the season averaging 5 million multiplatform
viewers per episode and regularly ranking in the top 10 weekly cable
programs among women throughout the season. “Outlander” ranks in the Top
5 Daily Nielsen Twitter TV Ratings every week.
The “Outlander” second season premiere episode more than doubled viewing
as compared to the “Outlander” first season premiere episode, setting a
new STARZ record for an original series/season premiere (on a Live +SD,
Live +3, and Live +7 basis). Through seven episodes in season 2, the
series has also been a top two rated show across all of cable among
women 18+ (Nielsen Live +3 F18+ ratings). (SOURCE: Starz internal
data, Nielsen Npower, and Nielsen Twitter Ratings).
About “Outlander”
The “Outlander” series spans the genres of romance, science fiction,
history, and adventure in one epic tale. It follows the story of Claire
Randall (Caitriona Balfe), a married combat nurse from 1945, who is
mysteriously swept back in time to 1743. Upon her arrival, she is thrown
into an unknown world where her freedom and her life, are threatened.
But when she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), a chivalrous
and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate relationship is
ignited. Now, Claire’s heart is torn between two vastly different men in
two irreconcilable lives.
The second installment of “Outlander” begins as Claire and Jamie arrive
in France, hell-bent on infiltrating the Jacobite rebellion led by
Prince Charles Stuart, and stopping the battle of Culloden. With the
help of his cousin Jared, a local wine merchant, Jamie and Claire are
thrown into the lavish world of French society, where intrigue and
parties are abundant, but political gain proves far less fruitful.
Altering the course of history presents challenges that begin to
weigh on the very fabric of their relationship. However, armed with
the knowledge of what lies ahead, Claire and Jamie must race to
prevent a doomed Highland uprising, and the extinction of Scottish
life as they know it.
Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek:
Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation”) developed the series
adaptation for “Outlander.”
Diana Gabaldon’s eight-book series has sold more than 26 million copies
worldwide and all eight books in the series have graced the New York
Times best-sellers list. The “Outlander” series spans the genres of
romance, science fiction, history, and adventure in one grandiose tale.
“Outlander” is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Story Mining and
Supply Company, and Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures
Television.
Starz retains all domestic multiplatform pay TV rights to the original
series.
For more information, visit the official Outlander Facebook
Page and follow @Outlander_Starz
on Twitter and Instagram. Join the conversation with #Outlander and
#STARZ. For additional high-resolution images and other press materials,
please visit the Starz Media Room at http://starz.mediaroom.com.
About Starz
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and
entertainment company with operating units that provide premium
subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television networks
(Starz Networks) and global content distribution (Starz Distribution), www.starz.com.
The Starz Networks operating unit is home to the flagship STARZ® brand
with 24.0 million subscribers in the United States as of March 31, 2016,
with the STARZ ENCORESM network at 32.4 million subscribers.
Through STARZ, the company provides high quality, entertaining premium
subscription video programming with 17 premium pay TV channels and
associated on-demand and online services. STARZ is sold through U.S.
multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite
television providers, telecommunications companies, and other online and
digital platforms. Starz offers subscribers more than 5,000 distinct
premium television episodes and feature films every year and up to 1,500
every month, including STARZ Original series, first-run movies and other
popular movie and television programming. The Starz Distribution
operating unit is home to the Anchor Bay Entertainment, Starz Digital,
and Starz Worldwide Distribution divisions. In addition to STARZ
Original series, Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires
movies, television and other entertainment content for worldwide home
video, digital, and television licensing and sales.
About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television (http://www.sonypicturestelevision.com),
a Sony Pictures Entertainment company, is one of the television
industry’s leading content providers. It produces and distributes
programming in every genre, around the world and for a multitude of
platforms. In addition to one of the industry’s largest libraries of
award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, Sony Pictures
Television (SPT) boasts a current program slate that includes top-rated
daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original
animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and
telefilms. In addition to its US production business, SPT
has 18 wholly-owned or joint venture production companies
in 10 countries and also maintains offices in 31 countries. SPT’s
worldwide television networks portfolio includes 126 channel feeds
available in 168 countries, reaching more than 980 million cumulative
households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages
SPE’s premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns US
production company Embassy Row and is a part owner of cable channel Game
Show Network (GSN), 3D channel 3net, and national U.S. media sales
company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premier
national advertising sales companies and handles the commercial
inventory in SPT’s syndicated series as well as the Rural Media Group
and DrOz.com.
Contacts
Starz
Theano Apostolou, 424-204-4052
theano@starz.com
or
Sony
Pictures Television
Lauren Townsend, 310-244-8476
lauren_townsend@spe.sony.com
