Ronald D. Moore certainly knows a thing or two about dealing with especially passionate fan bases, so who better to head up a book-to-TV adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander than him? The show centers on Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), a WWII combat nurse who accidentally winds up traveling back in time to 1743. While Claire’s busy cozying up with Scottish soldier Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) in the 18th century, her husband Frank (Tobias Menzies) is trying to track her down in 1945.
I recently got the opportunity to sit down with Moore and Gary Lewis who plays Colum MacKenzie, the chieftain of the MacKenzie Clan, about working on the series. They discussed if the demographic of the book had an effect on what they do in the show, the especially steamy sex scenes, the “Partridge Family socks” Lewis has to wear so that they can depict the effect Toulouse-Lautrec Syndrome has on Colum’s legs and more. You can check it all out in the video interview below.
Ronald D. Moore and Gary Lewis:
- 00:05 - Moore on how the Outlander fan base compares to the other fan bases he’s had experience with.
- 01:07 - On the demographic breakdown of the book's fan base.
- 01:25 - Has he done anything specific to bring in male viewers?
- 02:06 - Will there be more episodes from Jamie’s perspective?
- 02:29 - Moore on what we’ve already seen in season 1 and what’s to come.
- 02:59 - Lewis on the need for Colum to take action in the second half of the season.
- 03:25 - Lewis on what he has to do beyond wearing the VFX socks to accurately portray Colum’s condition.
- 04:14 - Lewis’ Partridge Family/Russian Constructivism socks.
- 04:48 - Moore on the sex scenes and nudity in the show; did Starz give him any limitations?
- 05:51 - What he does to create a safe, comfortable space on set.
- 06:27 - Moore on what’s to come in Outlander season 2.
- 07:22 - Moore on the status of the show Star Wars: Underworld; arguing with George Lucas about Darth Vader.
