We told you recently that Sam Heughan had been cast as the male lead in the Ronald D. Moore-produced adaptation of Diana Gabaldon‘s Outlander. Heughan is set to play Scottish warrior Jamie Fraser in the 18th century part of the two ages time travel story.
Starz has now announced that the second point of the triangle has been cast, as Tobias Menzies (Edmure Tully in Game of Thrones) will be playing the dual roles of Frank Randall in post-World War 2 times, and Frank’s ancestor “Black Jack” Randall in 18th century times. We’re still waiting to see who will be playing the third point of that triangle, the female/primary lead for the series, which is scheduled to air in 2014.
TOBIAS MENZIES CAST IN STARZ & SONY PICTURES TV’S ANTICIPATED NEW ORIGINAL SERIES “OUTLANDER”
Menzies to Play Dual Roles of Frank Randall and the Duplicitous “Black Jack” Randall from Diana Gabaldon’s International Best-Selling Novels
From “Battlestar Galactica” Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore
Beverly Hills, Calif., August 8, 2013 – Starz in association with Sony Pictures Television has announced today that Tobias Menzies (“Game of Thrones,” “Rome,” Casino Royale) will play the roles of both Frank Randall and Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall in the original series “Outlander.” The series adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling books by Ronald D. Moore (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation”) is set to premiere on STARZ in 2014.
Menzies will join Sam Heughan who was recently cast in the role of Jamie Fraser.
The “Outlander” series spans the genres of romance, science fiction, history, and adventure in one epic tale. It follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate affair is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.
Frank Randall is Claire’s 20th century husband and a professional historian with a deep interest in the 18th century and his own genealogy. Frank and Claire are reunited in 1945, after being separated by the war. They are rekindling their relationship when Claire suddenly disappears. Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall is Frank’s ancestor from the 18th century. A Captain in the English Army posted into Scotland during a time when rebellion was rife. The nickname is no mistake, while Black Jack Randall may look striking similar, he is nothing like the gentle, bookish Frank; he is a dark, violent man who will take what he wants at any cost.
Menzies has recently been seen in HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” as the heir to House Tully of Riverrun, Edmure Tully. Internationally, he is best recognized for his role as Marcus Junios Brutus in HBO’s “Rome.” His extensive list of television credits include “The Deep,” “The Shadow Line,” “Eternal Law,” “Foyle’s War,” “Dr. Who: Cold War” and he is slated to play Nathaniel Bloom in the upcoming miniseries “The Honourable Woman.” Menzies scored a significant film role aside Dame Judy Dench in the 2006 reboot of the James Bond franchise, Casino Royale. On stage, he has played in productions including “The Hush” and “History Boys” for the National Theatre, “The Recruiting Officer” at the Donmar Warehouse, “The Children’s Hour” starring opposite Kiera Knightly and Elizabeth Moss, and in Michael Blakemore’s “Three Sisters,” which scored him a nomination for the prestigious Ian Charleson Award. He is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Menzies is represented by Paradigm in the US and Conway Van Gelder Grant in the UK.
Diana Gabaldon’s seven-book series has sold more than 18 million copies and has graced the New York Times best-sellers list six times. The eighth installment of the “Outlander” series is slated to be released in the spring of 2014.
Ronald D. Moore and Jim Kohlberg are executive producers of “Outlander,” which is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Story Mining & Supply Company and Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television. The series will begin filming in Scotland this fall.
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 channels (Starz Networks), global content distribution (Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production (Starz Animation), www.starz.com.Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies. As of June 30, 2013, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 56.9 million subscribers, including 21.8 million at STARZ, and 35.1 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S. STARZ® and ENCORE®, along with Starz Networks’ third network MOVIEPLEX®, air more than 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television. Starz Distribution’s home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties. Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences worldwide.
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. SPT has 18 wholly-owned or joint venture production companies in 15 countries outside the U.S. and also maintains offices in 32 countries. SPT’s worldwide television networks portfolio includes 124 channel feeds available in 159 countries, reaching more than 800 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE’s premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns production company Embassy Row and is a part owner of cable channel Game Show Network (GSN), 3D channel 3net, premier horror/thriller website and VOD service FEARnet 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 in U.S. digital businesses including FEARnet, DrOz.com and PlayStation.
