25 Wild Details About The Making Of Outlander

25 Wild Details About The Making Of Outlander

Even the most dedicated Outlander fans had no idea about these fascinating behind-the-scenes details.

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The enchanted world of Outlander pulls us into a journey through history, but a lot went on behind-the-scenes to get there. Jamie and Claire Fraser’s voyages across the globe and travels through time required much attention to detail. On set and in the editing room, producers found creative ways to bring this fantastic story to our screens in an accurate way. The sci-fi and mystical elements of the show might not be real, but still, the historical settings of Scotland, France, England, Jamaica, and colonial America had to be imitated as truthfully as possible. Even the most obsessed Outlander fans won’t know what it took to recreate these extraordinary time periods.

There are also plenty of weird obstacles, unexpected casting assessments, and production decisions that are worth revealing. Some are simply amusing details, while others dramatically affected the course of the show. The plot definitely took a few turns in adapting the Outlander books to television. At times, this was to the dismay of author Diana Gabaldon, and in other instances, these changes added more to her story than she could have imagined. Still, some of her opinions are startling, and you won’t believe what she has to say about our beloved male protagonist! No matter the disagreements or hiccups along the road, everyone on the cast and crew worked together to construct the world we could previously only visualize through the novels. It’s a massive task to replicate the magic and tragedy of eighteenth-century Scotland and beyond, but everyone involved showed no signs of slacking. Let’s take a look at how exactly this captivating series came about.

Here are 25 Wild Details About The Making Of Outlander.

25 Liam Neeson or Sean Connery were the author’s picks to play Jamie

Sam Heughan is now unmistakably Jamie Fraser, but long before he was cast as the show’s protagonist, author Diana Gabaldon had others in mind. Apparently, she had no hesitation about shooting for the stars as she imagined either Liam Neeson or Sean Connery as the leading man in the adaption.

At this point, though, Outlander was meant to be a feature film rather than a whole television series. This might explain the fact that these two actors are quite a bit older than Jamie is in the books. Sam Heughan might be an unfamiliar face, but in the end, he matches Jamie’s appearance and character far more closely.

24 Costume designers didn’t want to use tartans

Colorful tartans automatically come to mind when imagining the Scottish highlands. To costume designers’ dismay, though, research doesn’t exactly support how we perceive them. Though fans were adamant about seeing the vivid patterns specific to each Scottish clan, history tells a different story. Highlanders would not have had time to produce brightly-colored tartans all with the same pattern to represent their group.

Costume designers for the show had to find a balance that would satisfy viewers and maintain a Scottish feel. Characters do wear tartans, but they are much more faded and worn with varying patterns. It’s good to know Outlander maintained a sense of historical integrity, even if we had to give up the stereotype.

23 Caitriona Balfe is the only cast member to speak Gaelic, but her character doesn’t need to

It’s an ironic twist that actress and leading lady Caitriona Balfe speaks Gaelic, but her character, Claire, is an Englishwoman. Claire only speaks English and French, given that she’s the literal “outlander” in the story. Often times, she is frustrated and confused during other characters’ Gaelic conversations. While filming, though, Balfe understands every word just fine.

Many of the other actors, despite being from Scotland or Ireland, needed a dialect coach to help them perfect the accent. To be fair, it is an ancient passing language with severely different pronunciations. Long speeches must be extremely difficult to replicate authentically, but hopefully, the show can help revive Gaelic in a way.

22 The author thought Sam Heughan looked “bizarre”

Any Outlander fan might find this surprising, but it’s true that Diana Gabaldon wrote this on her blog. Heughan’s baby blue eyes and handsome features didn’t impress the author when she first googled him. She was originally against producers’ wish to consider Heughan for the role because of his bizarre looks. It’s unclear which photos she was looking at, but it’s hard to imagine any in which he doesn’t look like a full-on heartthrob.

Thankfully, she came around after watching his audition video. He brought the character to life, and it seems his appearance grew on her as well. We’re lucky she gave him a chance, because now anyone else playing Jamie would seem out of place.

21 It almost wasn’t shot in Scotland

It’s not uncommon for a television series to be filmed in locations that differ from the show’s actual setting. However, much of the magic of Outlander comes from the focus on Scotland and all its natural glory. That’s pretty hard to replicate in other parts of the world, even though it would have been doable.

The network (Starz) originally wanted to film in either New Zealand or Eastern Europe. These sound a bit out there, but they do have the picturesque mountains characteristic of Scotland. It’s difficult to say if this would have offended hardcore fans, though, but thankfully, in the end, producers managed to convince the network that Scotland would be the best and most authentic choice.

20 Caitriona Balfe couldn’t stop laughing at the horses’ flatulence

Horses are naturally a big part of filming a show that is set in the eighteenth century, and sometimes, it can be tough to work with animals on set. Yet, the only problem the horses caused was breaking Caitriona Balfe’s concentration. She couldn’t stop laughing when they got a bit gassy, which could definitely pull anyone out of the magic of the historical setting.

In one scene, Balfe was actually on the horse and kept putting her head down to avoid showing her laughter. The producers even thought she was confused about the scene and told her that her character is meant to be awake! Needless to say, the horse had to walk up to the castle a few more times until she could finish the scene with a straight face.

19 Producers showed the Battle of Culloden, but it wasn’t described in the books

The dramatic build-up to the Battle of Culloden didn’t quite reach its climax in the books. Claire returns to the twentieth century right before Jamie joins the fight, and we remain within her perspective until after the battle is over. The show’s producers maybe realized the battle could provide a spectacular visual display and they decided to show it to add plenty of action and to let us stick with the characters we’ve grown to love.

Despite the British forces defeating the Scots, the battle is an impressive scene that viewers can still be thankful for. It pulls us right into the combat and doesn’t leave this storyline hanging.

18 Everyone must wield their sword right-handed

This piece of trivia shows the producers’ diligent attention to historical detail. It’s clear they did their research and committed to making the show as accurate as possible, even if fans may not have noticed this one either way.

Every actor on the battlefield had to hold his sword in his right hand, and his shield in the left. Make no mistake; left-handed people did exist back then! However, they didn’t show it for fear of getting burned. They were assumed to be sinister, so everyone primarily used their right hand, even in combat. It’s unfortunate for the actors who are really left-handed, but at least they got a taste of what it would have been like back then.

17 It takes 3.5 hours to apply Jamie’s back scars

Jamie’s scars are a key part of the plot, so the show had no choice but to keep them in. It show’s Jamie’s strength of character that he was able to withstand being whipped many times. Sam Heughan probably wasn’t so happy about that, though, since it means he has to spend over three hours in the makeup chair. To be more precise, it’s actually a stool in order to allow the makeup team to work on his back. Talk about uncomfortable!

The reason it takes so long is because the scars are actually two silicon pieces applied to Heughan’s back. This gives them a more realistic look than if they were just painted on, since they appear deepened. On second thought, maybe it’s a little too realistic. Ouch!

16 Fans bring the cast snacks in the mountains

It must be nice to have a sort of room service in the mountainous highlands of Scotland. There’s no catering, but that doesn’t mean the cast doesn’t get to indulge. Caitriona Balfe says “The Outlander Bakers” manage to find the crew no matter where they’re shooting. The locals bring them homemade baked goods like cookies, cakes, and even gluten-free treats.

Considering how rough and cold the conditions can be, the cast and production team must be grateful since there’s nothing but grass and mountains for miles. The group also must be pretty hardcore fans who follow the cast on Twitter, because Sam Heughan can tweet his cravings and they’ll appear the next day. If only food delivery always worked like that!

15 Caitriona Balfe hasn’t read all the books

Don’t be alarmed, this isn’t laziness on Balfe’s part. It seems to be merely a strategy or preference to read only up until the parts they’re presently filming. Besides, there are currently eight extremely long books in the series with more to come. So, it might be best to take the time to savor them and be surprised by what’s ahead, especially for Balfe. It must be exciting not to know the next possible filming locations for Jamie and Claire’s adventures.

Still, you’d think she’d be curious about what’s going to happen to her character. Granted, the books sometimes flip back and forth in time, so it’s definitely not a linear progression regardless.

14 Author Diana Gabaldon cameoed

The author got the chance to play a role in the series she made possible, but funnily enough, it was not one of her own characters. The part was created especially for her so that she was able to make an appearance. She briefly plays merchant’s wife Iona MacTavish in order to say a few lines and experience the show’s production more fully.

Though her cameo only lasts a few seconds, it’s impressive that Gabaldon was able to do a pretty accurate Scottish accent. She is from the States after all, and the Scottish inflection has to be one of the thickest in the English language. It’s also a nice opportunity to wear a beautiful and elaborate eighteenth century dress.

13 Season Three was shot in South Africa

Sunny Cape Town is a far cry from the rough and rainy highlands of Scotland, but this is what producers required for the third season based on the Voyager novel. The season isn’t actually set in Cape Town, but tropical sets and soundproof stages in South Africa stand in for Jamaica. Despite the appeal of Scottish history and its stunning aesthetic, the show moves along and explores different parts of the world.

A change of landscape proves to be a good change of pace for the show and Jamie and Claire have previously become outlanders in many different places like France and America, but a tropical setting was quite the shift. The actors probably weren’t complaining, though!

12 The show has used over 300 wigs

The hair and makeup department was certainly not slacking. The team said they have never used 300 wigs on any other show, and they were all very expensive. The sheer number of characters on Outlander makes this unsurprising, combined with the fact that fancy eighteenth-century hairstyles are far more intricate to recreate.

Especially when Jamie and Claire go to Paris, we’re treated to luxurious clothing and wigs to match. Even while we’re still in Scotland, hair and makeup is still a demanding task; and although the protagonists have natural hair, let’s not forget that the entire English army wears wigs to begin with. It’s clear there is no room for budget cuts in this department.

11 Claire and Jamie settle in the New World, but still film in Scotland

Season four, which is currently airing, portrays yet another exciting change of location for the Frasers. They settle in the New World in America, but for logistical reasons, the show still films in Scotland. You won’t see any highlands here, though, as producers tried to recreate a U.S. setting during the settler period.

Set designers built a whole colonial town complete with a plantation house, and Jamie and Claire’s homestead is also built from scratch in a Scottish forest. Their humble farm is undeniably a change from their previous escapades, or even Jamie’s large stone estate back in Scotland. It’s strange to think the crew is in the same location as season one, but whatever works, right?

10 The intro music is based on a traditional song

You may or may not recognize the melody of Outlander’s intro music; the sweet melancholic tune is a perfect fit for the show. It’s derived from The Skye Boat Song, a Scottish folk song written about Prince Charles’ escape after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden. This would be appropriate since we see this very battle on the show.

However, the lyrics are slightly altered. Now, it’s about a “lass” and could refer to Claire herself escaping her own world (or time period). Some may find it unnecessary to change the song, but it’s appropriate considering how we see the events unfold through Claire’s eyes. The tune is also another beautiful piece of Scottish culture the show does well to represent.

9 Sam Heughan auditioned for Game of Thrones seven times

We’re lucky Heughan never got one of the many Game of Thrones parts he tried out for, which included Loras, Renly, and a few Night’s Watch members. He always got close during the audition process, but came up short. It’s no wonder, given the show’s popularity, that he’d have way too much competition for the parts.

It’s a good thing that something better was waiting for Heughan in his Outlander role as the male protagonist. It would have been a shame had he been unavailable to play Jamie Fraser. Playing more minor characters on Game of Thrones would have been fun, but now, Heughan has more star power and longevity as the leading man.

8 Doubles weren’t used in the Jamie/Randall duel

This was no mistake on the part of the production team. They had stunt doubles prepared for a particularly intense scene, but didn’t end up using them. During the Battle of Culloden, Jamie duels British enemy Jack Randall one-on-one. Protecting the actors is typically the priority in action sequences, especially ones involving close combat.

However, the nature of this specific fight was so intimate that the production team quickly found that stunt doubles didn’t work. The camera shots were too close up, not to mention the actors themselves wanted to get the scene just right. Both men opted to do it themselves, taking a huge toll on their bodies after many hours of constant work.

7 Sam Heughan knows hidden information about the story

Heughan is lucky to have a friendship with the Outlander author, and frequently asks her for advice concerning his character. Though she’s not always on set, they keep in touch through Twitter and email. As a result, Heughan has access to a lot of material no one else does.

He says Gabaldon has sent him some of her unpublished short stories and additional scenes that reveal more about Jamie’s backstory. This helped the actor connect more with the character and see Jamie as his own person before he met Claire. Heughan says he loves this aspect of working on the show as it’s a great foundation to build on; he can do so much of his own research by reading the books and conversing with the author.

6 Tobias Menzies’ characters were written out, but he wants to come back

The coolest thing about Outlander has to be jumping around in time. Not only do we travel back through history with Claire, but we also see the story unfold in a very mixed order. Characters who have passed on could easily be seen again, and not just in flashbacks.

For this reason, Tobias Menzies thinks it’s very possible that both his characters (Jack Randall and Frank Randall) could return despite their storylines having ended. It helps his chances that he has two roles he can play: “With a show that can travel anywhere in time, you never know,” he says. We’re definitely hoping for some surprise character returns from a script with so much wiggle room!

5 Minor characters became comedic relief

Scotsmen Rupert and Angus play a minor role in the books, but the show’s producers transformed them into some much-needed comic relief. With so much heavy content in the plot, there was no doubt that some changes needed to be made.

The author loves how they ham it up on the show, which is something she never envisioned while originally creating them. She describes them as “the 1800s version of Laurel and Hardy.” Sometimes, authors fight the changes made in adaptions of their work, but this was clearly a home run for Gabaldon. The lighter funny moments help the show be well rounded, of course, viewers love all the action and drama, but we’re happy to break it up with a few good laughs.

4 Swords were set on fire for an antique look

Shiny chrome swords don’t exactly fit the vibe of rustic eighteenth-century combat, but that’s how they come when ordered in bulk for battle scenes. It makes a lot of extra work for the armorers, who have to use a blowtorch in order to age them. They even knock entire pieces off to make them look more worn.

A great number of actors are involved in battle scenes, especially Culloden, so it must have taken the team a long time to ensure that every sword that is visible on the show isn’t perfectly new and polished. Brand new weapons would look pretty jarring next to worn tartans and roughed-up Scotsmen, so thankfully, producers took this extra step.

3 Cheese graters helped age the costumes

Speaking of blowtorches, the Scots’ costumes were also aged with fire. It seems like there wasn’t a lot on this set that was immune to purposeful wear and tear. In the case of the clothing, cheese graters surprisingly helped the process. It’s a bummer to shred up such beautifully made clothes, but it wouldn’t really make sense for battle-worn highlanders to have brand new wardrobes.

Another wild technique was to tie up the costumes with string and bake them in an oven. They must have been durable pieces of clothing, though, because it took a lot to age them to producers’ satisfaction. There’s no chance of these kilts coming out spotless!

2 It took seven tries to dye Sam Heughan’s hair the perfect red

It’s reassuring that Heughan is in fact a Scot, but that doesn’t mean he was born with naturally red hair. He had to dye his pale brown locks before filming began to match Jamie’s distinctive redhead look. Unfortunately, it was not as easy as it sounds. Hairdressers dyed Heughan’s hair seven times until producers were satisfied with the exact shade of coppery red.

It’s fair for them to be picky, considering that it’s crucial for the color to appear natural. Still, no one envies Heughan for the twenty-seven hours he spent in a salon chair, but at least the final result suits him incredibly well. When all is said and done, he looks like he should have been a redhead all along.

1 Claire’s spiritual journey was crucial to the author, but was cut until executive intervention

One of Gabaldon’s favorite moments of her story happens to be something the producers didn’t deem necessary. Fans of the books may remember that Claire has a deep conversation about spirituality with Father Anselm. Producers shot the scene at the author’s request, but didn’t end up using it despite her adamancy. They explained that it slowed the pace of the episode down and wasn’t important to the plot, which she had a hard time accepting.

Nonetheless, she got her way in the end by total fluke. Gabaldon was sitting next to a network executive at a dinner and described the scene to him in passing. Next thing she knew, it was back in the final cut, although it was considerably shortened. Still, the most important lines made it in, much to the author’s relief.

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What other Outlander details fascinated you? Let us know in the comments!

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Link Source : https://screenrant.com/outlander-details-behind-making-of/

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