'Outlander' Season 4 Casting News: Starz Tap Actors For Two Key Characters Next Season
Reports revealed that "Orphan Black" alum Maria Doyle Kennedy and "Downton Abbey" star Ed Speleers had been tapped to play important roles in the next installment of Starz' popular time-traveling series.
Kennedy will portray the role of Jocasta Cameron, the aunt of Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) from his mother's side. It also means that she is the younger sister of Colum (Gary Lewis) and Dougal MacKenzie (Graham McTavish). On the other hand, Speelers will step into the role of the Irish pirate and smuggler named Stephen Bonnet. He will be a major challenge for both Jamie and his wife Claire Fraser (Caitriona Balfe).
Both characters were featured in the fourth book of Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" book saga where the TV series was based from.
Aside from both actors, the series already casted the puppies who will portray the role of the wolf hybrid dog that the Frazers will lovingly called Rollo. According to a description provided by a Starz spokesperson that was mentioned in a report from Entertainment Weekly back in May, the dog has a fondness for trouble. "The dog will play a key part in the adventure that lies ahead," the network representative stated.
Gabaldon also reacted about the casting for Rollo in the same interview, saying that the puppies look cute but tough.
"They'd need to growl and look menacing on command, I think, and carry back prey of one kind or another to their master," the author stated. "I assume they wouldn't let them catch things on camera ... especially fish, of course."
The production for "Outlander" season 4 has yet to begin, but the series is currently airing its third season on Starz every Sundays at 8 p.m. EDT. However, fans of the romantic fictional historical drama must wait until Oct. 22 before they can finally watch Jamie and Claire's highly-anticipated reunion in episode 6.