Fans of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series may never see the soon to be seven-part series made into a movie. The plot is too convoluted, the love scenes too inventive, the production value too expensive to fully capture the integrity of the story. Short of HBO taking on Outlander as a television series with all the nudity, violent battle scenes, and foul-mouth Scots-speak intact, Jamie Fraser may never see the light of celluloid.
And then a YouTube phenomenon saves the day. A trail of Outlander casting videos began popping up to the delight of Outlander addicts everywhere.
The best among them is Outlander-Part I. Unfortunately, the YouTube owner of said video forbids embedding, so click on the link and away you go…
thanx
By: hanankanaan on September 9, 2007
at 10:17 pm
[...] Outlander Movie: Casting Jamie Fraser You knew it was coming with The Outlander Movie post: my casting ideas. To be honest, I prefer to see Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander novels adapted [...]
By: The Outlander Movie: Casting Jamie Fraser « The Lit Connection on September 16, 2007
at 9:12 pm
There’s always hope for the BBC to take it on!
LOL
By: Kristina on September 23, 2007
at 10:43 am
Orlando Bloom as Fergus!
By: Bree on November 9, 2007
at 2:07 pm
Have you ever thought of Clive Owen as Jamie??
I think he’d play the part well just add a bit of light colour to his hair
By: Heather Keddy on December 16, 2007
at 4:18 am
The part of Jamie should definately be a strong red-headed giant of a man with a thick Scotish accent and of course gorgeous. I love these books, I really hope we can get a movie out of it.
By: Vonna on December 28, 2007
at 8:24 pm
Ok to all the Outlander fans out there, My sister and I think everyone should petition HBO or Showtime to make a series out of the books That way they wont have to cut it to pieces like they did to the Vampire chronicles of Ann Rice. We think there is enough people out there that could keep the series going. As long as they stick to the books… We love them! We have read them all over five times at least.
By: carry on January 3, 2008
at 5:20 pm
If anyone can do justice to an Outlander movie, it’s Peter Jackson. I’m convinced he’s the only possibility.
By: Kristi Strange on January 31, 2008
at 11:52 am
I would like very much to see Josh Holloway (Sawyer in “Lost”) as jamie. For me he is like I immagine James.
Sorry for my english, I’m italian. But I hope you undestand what i want to say.
By: Donatella on February 7, 2008
at 9:50 am
An HBO series in the flavour of Rome would be great. Im half though the first book and love it on my mind constantly How about Kevin Mckidd as Jamie http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0571727/
By: Bob on February 11, 2008
at 7:17 am
I am a big fan of Rome; should Outlander be adapted into an HBO series resembling Rome, I would be overjoyed!
By: T Y on February 11, 2008
at 10:06 am
Ooooh…just found your site! I have echoed Kristi a number of times saying Peter Jackson is the man to do it if anyone can. Fun discussion! Just started rereading for the *I*lost*count* time. Getting ready for An Echo in the Bone in 2009.
By: kanniduba on March 25, 2008
at 7:55 am
When is the movie coming out??
By: Mellisa on April 30, 2008
at 8:26 pm
[...] with The movie outlander post: my casting ideas. To be honest, I prefer to see Diana Gabaldon??s …http://thelitconnection.wordpress.com/2007/09/09/the-outlander-movie/Outlander 2007 – Movie Info – Yahoo! MoviesOutlander 2007: find the latest news, photos and [...]
By: outlander movie on June 2, 2008
at 9:47 pm
I agree with Kristi. Nobody could do a full-scale Outlander epic like Peter Jackson. Gabaldon has created such rich characters, I don’t think HBO would give them justice. Donatella, I think Josh Holloway would make a perfect Stephen Bonnet.
By: Kim on July 5, 2008
at 7:44 pm
I think that these books should be made into movies ASAP. I have been waiting for news of a movie ever since I read the books. What is taking people so long!?!?!?! I also think that Peter Jackson would do a phenominal job making these books into movies
By: Amanda on July 13, 2008
at 4:41 pm
GERARD BUTLER AS JAMIE FRASER!!
By: Alida on July 29, 2008
at 6:45 pm
NO NO NO, making the outlander sries into a film would just destroy completely the magic of the book. Everyone is arguing about who should play Jamie, if they pick one person, they are destroying pictures of the Jamie in the book, as you will never find a man exactly like the Jamie we all imagine without going back about 500 years. NO NO NO to anything outside the book. Things would be missed out and it would destroy everything people work up in their mindof how everything is. NO TO ANY ADAPTATION
By: Jenny on August 4, 2008
at 3:11 am
No. no. no. Gerard Butler is NOT Jamie! Don’t get me wrong, I love GB. I think he’s freakin’ hot, but he is too old for Jamie, and he has none of the facial features! And the books go on and on about the slanted blue eyes, red hair, straight nose, bla, bla bla.
Come on! There must be another big-handsome actor with an accent out there!!!
By: Mari on August 4, 2008
at 4:33 pm
Check out Charlie Hunnam! Give him some red locks and I see him as Jamie for sure. He’s british so he could pull off a scots accent. Check him out people!
By: Leah on August 12, 2008
at 8:26 am
No, Gerard Butler must play Jamie. Maybe his facial features arent exactly like hey are described in the books ( but he HAS a stright nose, and colouring the hait shouldnt be a problem), but his face is so expressive and h is sooo charming like Jamie is. Besides, I dont think that Gerry is to old to play Jamie, because even the young Jamie has gone through some really bad times, as we all know, which have marked him of course. No actor i his twenties could pay this.And second, Jamies body is a warriors body. You wont find a 23 year old man who has a body like Jamie/Gerry, those boys are to slender at this age.
And third, back then people looked older than people today at the same age.
And there would be another advantage if Gerry would play Jamie: He could play Jamie at every Age, at 23 as at 43. Or would you like two or three actors for Jamie? Or Having a 23 year old boy play a 40 year old man? No, that would be stupid.
I think as a director they would need someone like the one who directed PS I love You because he was able to catch all these emotions between te characters, wich is very important in my opinion.
By: Lisa on August 14, 2008
at 3:00 pm
I think that Dean McDermott (AKA Tori Spelling’s husband) would make a fine Jamie…he’s big, Scottish, and he’s got that “rough around the edges” look about him…can’t think of anyone else that would do….can you?
By: Lan on August 23, 2008
at 8:03 pm
I’ve read all the books in this series and my first choice was Gerard Butler for the part of Jamie… but after watching a film recently with the actor Kevin Kidd… I just cant seem to get his image out of my head … he is big as I have imagined Jamie to be.. he is a definate red head … the loveliest blue eyes like Jamie has and the face is definately viking looking!… and on top of all these qualities HE IS SCOTTISH and you wouldnt have to worry about him not fitting into the role… he is not as well known as some actors but Jesus H Roosevelt he is definately our Jamie… just have a look at him in the mini series of Rome… there is one photo on the net here under images for Kevin Kidd and the face just blew me away!…
I’m for Kevin Kidd he has my definate vote as Jamie!
By: Ness on October 11, 2008
at 12:23 am
I agree with whoever said Kevin McKidd as Jamie. Not that I want any one image to ruin my own mind’s image, but Kevin McKidd is the closest suggestion I’ve heard in a long litany of great looking men.
And, as we learned in HBO’s Rome, he carries off unbirfurcated male outfits (kilts, Roman miltary outfits) very well.
By: Thewrngbnd on October 13, 2008
at 5:44 am
thankyou Thewrngbnd agreeing with Kevin McKidd… your right about him wearing a kilt … I wouldnt mind even playing the part of Claire if that meant could go an unkilt the man… he definately has a body worth looking at I believe… just a shame that most of these comments wont be found by the right people doing the selection process… but I guess that now I at least have a clearer picture on what Jamie now looks like in the flesh!
By: Ness on October 15, 2008
at 2:11 am
I fully agree with Jenny in saying a film adaptation would destroy the magic completely. A novel is a novel for a reason and a film is a film; enjoy a novel for what it is and indulge in the magic of the characters and an entire world the author has created for you.
If you love it that much you should see it clearly and not have to have Hollywood’s idea of what Outlander is (which, by the way, runs a risk of changing/ruining the series).
By: Catlin on November 16, 2008
at 10:18 pm
Hey, I don’t know about Jamie, but I think Keri Russell would be a good Claire, and Laura Prepon (Donna from that 70’s show) would make a good Brianna. Atleast that’s who pops into my head while I’m reading.
By: Emily on January 21, 2009
at 12:29 pm
I agree on your choice for Brianna, But Keri Russell falls very short of my picture of Claire save for the curly hair.
By: Mosavi on March 3, 2009
at 6:06 pm
I have just re-read the books, I can’t wait for the next one to come out this fall. Is the book still going to be made into a movie. Yea I think Laura Prepon would be a good Brianna, I don;t know the name of the actor, he played in one of those Jackie Chan movies, I think the one where he is in England, anyways the guy who played a general or something, he would play Jack Randell .
By: kathy mckay on March 7, 2009
at 4:16 pm
Someone mentioned Kate Winslet as Claire. I almost believe she’d be suitable.
By: Mosavi on March 7, 2009
at 5:37 pm
I love these books! I’ve read the whole series about 3 times now, as I’m sure some of you also have. I think Kate Winslet would make a great Claire. She is very graceful, and very English, with porcelin skin. She can also be strong, feisty and witty. I remember her in Titanic, how she was graceful and English when she had to be, but had a sense of mischeif about her that wouldn’t let her stay put.
By: Sarah on March 15, 2009
at 10:07 pm
I’m only on the third book, having just discovered them a few weeks ago, and they are amazing. I am thankful to my Co-worker who introduced me.
Although, as much as I would love to see these books made into a movie, I hope they won’t be. There is no way a movie could do them justice. A movie would not be able to get all the detail of the novel, which is essential to the story of Jamie and Claire.
Also, how could anyone possibly fill the roll of Jamie Fraser? I don’t think it can be done.
By: KJ on May 15, 2009
at 1:22 pm
I began reading the series back in 2005 (thank you Sascha!!!) Absolutely wonderful story. I didn’t realize there was another book coming – happy to hear it! I would love to see a mini series made and can totally see Laura Prepon as Brianna. Claire and Jamie are definitely the tough roles to cast!
By: Beth on June 24, 2009
at 10:52 am
i think that Eric Bana would be an excellent choice for Jamie…he would look great as a younger Jamie too!
By: maura on July 8, 2009
at 7:23 am
what about Joss Stone for Brianna?? (limited acting experience I know) but she is tall/big and would be easy to color hair.
my first thought for Claire was Ashley Judd..not so sure now…
Kevin McKidd is great for Jaime.
I think Gerard Butler would be good for Roger
By: Rachael on August 18, 2009
at 6:03 pm
I have just been reading everyone’s comments and agree with many of them. I don’t like the idea of a film for many reason. If you turn it into another Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings you have to make at lest one movie for every book and then they would all be three hours long. Not to mention you would loose a lot of intimidate details because you just could not fit everything in.
I think the best thing would be the HBO/Showtime idea. I’m 99% sure there are and will be enough people who would love the show. It would be the only way to get the raw details that make the books so good onto the screen.
As for Actors I loved Kevin McKidd in Rome! If not Jamie at lest in the show. As for Clair I would love to see Natalie Dormer play the part ( she was Anne Boleyn in the Tudors). She is English and has that pail skin like Kate Winslet.
I can’t wait to see who they cast and what becomes of it.
By: Sarah on August 24, 2009
at 8:34 am
All I can say is Alex Skarsgard as Jamie. Dye is hair red and with his 6′4 body, he’d nail the part. But if they cast “older” people, then it’s gotta be Gerard Butler but he would also be a damn good Dougal. Oh and the Fiennes brothers would be excellent Randall’s!
By: Chelsea on September 2, 2009
at 5:42 pm
oooh… the Fiennes would be good Randall’s. Ralph being Jack… Joseph as Alex…
oh Alex Kingston might make a good Claire! She has great curly hair.
By: Rachael on September 3, 2009
at 1:07 pm
i say definatley gerald butler he could play jamie at every age and his smile is as i imagine jamies, look him up in the movie p.s. i love you or that other one where he fights the giant, come on help me out, but he has long reddish hair in that movie! im going to check out kevin kidd though
By: kelly on September 4, 2009
at 8:46 pm
i took a look at all options i think kevin mckidd or gerald butler others are too young looking!?
By: kelly on September 4, 2009
at 8:54 pm
While I agree a movie on the series wouldn’t do it justice, it is fun to think about who would play the main roles. How about Eric Bana as Jamie and Kate Winslet as Claire?!
By: Tammy on September 14, 2009
at 1:08 pm
I love these books and there is not enough time on the big screen or HBO that could do these books justice.
I to would love to see these books done in a movie, but it would soooo ruin the whole affect of the books and the feel they spread thru out the series of the love they have and share
I think Gerard is beautiful and so is Kevin but Jamie they are not …………..
By: BELINDA on September 30, 2009
at 9:48 pm
Oooh, I just saw this guy from… funny thing the movie is called Outlander but it is not Diana’s Outlander… the guys name is Jack Huston and he would be a great James Fraser…
See the movie Outlander… it is a good movie (not as good as this Outlander would be) but still a good movie. It kinda annoys me that it was called Outlander in fact… Stole the name from Diana Gabaldons story… hmph!
By: Michelle on October 23, 2009
at 11:00 am
Oh I hope BBC takes the books on because they do movies so tastfully! Please let it be pg 13 becuase i dont need to see people cussin and naked to get the idea!
By: Nicole on December 2, 2009
at 9:14 pm
Oh Please do make this series. DO NOT put Mel Gibson in the role of Jamie for goodness sake or any other character. I truely have no idea who should play Jamie, I have a vision of someone, but still he has no facial features. As for the part of Claire – tis is a tough call also, maybe someone along the lines of Rachel McAdams – Kate Beckinsale/Jennifer Garner????
By: Sue on December 3, 2009
at 5:46 pm