Surprise! Starz’s smash hit series Outlander will continue being on the air through at least 2018. The network announced today that it has renewed the Diana Gabaldon adaptation for two more seasons, officially ordering “Book Three” and “Book Four”. That means Gabandon’s bestselling novels Voyager and Drums of Autumn will be coming to fruition over the next two years, fresh off the success of the show’s second season, which debuted in April.

Under showrunner Ronald D. Moore, Outlander successfully weathered a significant shift in Season 2, which moved the action of the time-travel-infused drama series from Scotland to France. Further location changes could be afoot depending on how closely the show hews to the stories of Voyager and Drums of Autumn, but fear not folks, we’re far from the end. Gabaldon’s book series encompasses eight novels in total, plus a pair of novellas and a short story, so there’s plenty left, and thus far Moore and Co. have seen fit to adapt these books pretty faithfully.


Episode counts have not yet been revealed for Outlander Season 3 and Season 4, but the show’s first season totaled 16 episodes while Season 2 will have 13 episodes by the time it wraps up in early July. Given how expensive new locations and such can be, one imagines the show will remain around 13 episodes for the remainder of its run.

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Image via Starz

Check out the full press release below.

Beverly Hills, Calif., June 1, 2016  Starz Chief Executive Officer Chris Albrecht announced today the network has ordered “Book Three” and “Book Four” for the Golden Globe®-nominated STARZ Original series “Outlander,” the critically-acclaimed original series executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s international bestselling books. Once again partnering with Sony Pictures Television, this is the first multi-book pickup for “Outlander,” assuring the series will run for several more years. The highly-anticipated second installment of the series premiered on STARZ in April 2016.

 

“Book Three” will be based on the third of the eight books in the Outlander series, entitled Voyager, followed by “Book Four” based on the fourth book in the series,Drums of Autumn.

 

CEO of Starz Chris Albrecht said, “’Outlander’ is like nothing seen before on television. From its depiction of a truly powerful female lead character, to the devastating decimation of the Highlander way of life, to what is a rarely seen genuine and timeless love story, it is a show that not only transports the viewer, but inspires the passion and admiration of its fans. On this 25th anniversary of the publication of the first book in the U.S., we are thrilled and honored to be able to continue the story that began with author Diana Gabaldon, and is brought to life by the incredibly talented Ronald D. Moore. There are no better storytellers for ‘Outlander’ than this team, both in front and behind the camera.”


“The world of Jamie and Claire is expansive and emotionally complex. The audience has rewarded Outlander with their praise and loyalty, and we know we will deliver the best seasons yet  in the years ahead,” said Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg , Presidents, U.S. Programming and Production, Sony Pictures Television. “Starz has been an incredible partner and has truly helped shape this into one of the most iconic premiere series on the air today.”

 

“Outlander” received three 2016 Golden Globe® nominations, including Best Drama Series, Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actor. Fans recently named “Outlander” the “Most Bingeworthy Show of 2016” at the Critics’ Choice Awards®, as well as Favorite Cable Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show and Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress for Caitriona Balfe at the 2016 People’s Choice Awards®. The series also received a Costume Designers Guild Awards® (CDGA) nomination this year.

 

The first 16-episode run of “Outlander,” filmed on location in Scotland, debuted in August 2014 with the season averaging 5 million multiplatform viewers per episode and regularly ranking in the top 10 weekly cable programs among women throughout the season. “Outlander” ranks in the Top 5 Daily Nielsen Twitter TV Ratings every week.

 

The “Outlander” second season premiere episode more than doubled viewing as compared to the “Outlander” first season premiere episode, setting a new STARZ record for an original series/season premiere (on a Live +SD, Live +3, and Live +7 basis). Through seven episodes in season 2, the series has also been a top two rated show across all of cable among women 18+ (Nielsen Live +3 F18+ ratings). (SOURCE: Starz internal data, Nielsen Npower, and Nielsen Twitter Ratings).