By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Outlander‘s Murray family will look a wee bit different when the Starz drama returns for Season 7.[pmc_inline_gallery]
Kristin Atherton (Doctors, Waterloo Road) is joining the series as a recast Jenny Murray, a role played in Seasons 1 through 3 by Laura Donnelly (The Nevers), the network announced Tuesday.
In addition, Starz revealed that some familiar faces from past seasons will show up again in the upcoming episodes. Graham McTavish (who plays Dougal MacKenzie), Nell Hudson (Laoghaire Fraser), Steven Cree (the elder Ian Murray), Lotte Verbeek (Geillis Duncan), Andrew Whipp (Brian Fraser) and Layla Burns (Joan MacKimmmie) all will reprise their characters.
How will that happen, you may ask, given that some of the fictional people listed above are dead? “One of the many joys of our epic story is the element of time travel which allows us to revisit some of our favorite characters in different times and places, and we’re thrilled to welcome back so many familiar faces for Season 7,” showrunner/writer/executive producer Matthew B. Roberts said via statement.
The show also will introduce several new characters, including: Mercy Woodcock, a free Black woman in Colonial America (played by Gloria Obianyo, Dune); Rob Cameron, a new acquaintance of Brianna and Roger’s (played by Chris Fulton, Bridgerton); Benedict Arnold, the notorious traitor (played by Rod Hallett, The Last Kingdom); Buck MacKenzie, Dougal MacKenzie’s bastard son with Geillis Duncan, who also is Roger’s ancestor (played by Diarmaid Murtagh, Vikings) — and who was played by McTavish in a cheeky cameo in Season 5.
Earlier in 2022, Outlander announced the casting of several other key role, including Charles Vandervaart (Lost in Space) as Jamie’s grown son, William Ransom; Izzy Meikle-Small (Ripper Street) as Rachel Hunter; and Joey Phillips (Doctors) as Dr. Denzell Hunter.
So either Marvel or HBO got Donnelly booked. Given the timing of the announcement probably fair to guess it’s the former.
It doesn’t have to be a huge producer/studio. These shows are built around a small number of “irreplaceable” actors. Outside that small core, basically anyone else could be changed out mid episode and it wouldn’t impact viewership.
She said a while ago she doesn’t want to play older Jenny, and she doesn’t like the fandom associated with Outlander. Their too much. She was supposed to be in the 20 year time jump when Bree goes to find her parents, but she had already decided not to come back. That was like three years ago, and I believe before The Nevers had started.
Why why wouldn’t seh want to be in a popular show?
Got me! I loved her fiesty character
i understand but is to bad because Laura was perfect !!
I love Laura but I have been thinking this needs to happen. She’s a bigger part now and we can’t rewrite season 7 to point its unrecognizable because she wasn’t available. Can’t wait to see how the new actress does as Jenny.
I remember since book reader why we have Steven and Nell back and of course Jenny character but the others returning I don’t remember if they were mentioned in things that could be flashbacks or bringing another book forward or if they just decided to do their own storyline that wasn’t in the books.
This has ne all kinds of excited since I have zero clue what happens/ doesn’t happen in the books.
Am excited to see how close it stays to the book. I will genuinely miss Laura. She WAS Jenny.
I LOVE Laura Donnelly!!! After seeing her in Outlander I literally searched out every other project she has acted in! She’s amazing in everything! I’m REALLY hoping that she was just in a Marvel short on Disney+, that she will become part of the Marvel universe somehow. Or she could be on The Boys!! I have no objection to that either!
I’m upset for 2 reasons. 1, because the actress was awesome as Jenny. 2, because they changed a very important scene, when Bree goes to the past, because she wasn’t available. So, if they were going to recast, I wish it was back then.
Good. Jenny a fairly key person in the book series. Someone should get this part… Jenny can’t be off ‘helping birth another grandchild’ for eternity.
The involvement of characters past as flashbacks or ghosts etc has GOT to be much better than the insipid, poorly animated cartoon ‘out takes.’ Who’s dumb idea was THAT?!
Likewise, pass completely on the whole Claire as a junkie scenario. Bleh! Season 6 was aimless and dull. Seven can’t help but be much improved.
I stopped watching the show when Jamie stopped ageing, and every single scene he is in, he acts like “aren’t I the sexiest man you have ever seen” (for the record, NO, absolutely NOT you conceded douche-canoe). I LOVE the rest of the cast, but he has become unbearable to watch. Not to mention that he isn’t that great of an actor compared to the rest of the cast.
Did the the Jenny Murray recast cause the season 7 hold up. That may have required numerous scenes to be reshot.
No, because she left along time ago. No reshoots needed if she was never there.
Agree. Plus season 7 is twice as long as season 6 with 16 episodes so even though they started filming season 7 in Spring 2022 it’s taking time to film and produce all those episodes.
Also in Werewolf by night, the Nevers which she stars in. Brittania and other works, she hasn’t been in the show for how many seasons now?
I don’t get this oh the loss of such a character, she was in 8 episodes, last one being 2017
Hi do you play in the uk
Jenny??? She was a perfect feisty sister!!! Will miss her
why did they replace laura donnelly? She was perfect as Jenny janet frazier