The Droughtlander has started, and fans would be up for a long waiting game before they see Outlander Season 5. Viewers have a lot of questions about what the new season has to offer, including the possibility of seeing an extended premiere. So, will they see more than an hour first episode?
According to CarterMatt, every Outlander Season 5 would be extended, but it still has to meet Starz's and other network partners' "episode-length qualifications." The previous season didn't tell everything about Diana Gabaldon's Drums of Autumn, where it was based, including "The Gathering," which might be seen next season.
As Outlander Season 5 might tell the story of both Drum's of Autumn and the fifth book series The Fiery Cross, it might be safe to assume the upcoming episodes would be 75 to 90 minutes long. Aside from that, the next installment would be shorter compared to the previous seasons.
Outlander Season 5 will only have 12 episodes, so people behind the series have to pack every episode with the story they want to tell. So, for them to be able to show all the content to complete the new season's tale and to compensate for the shorter chapter, they may release an extended premiere.
Starz CEO Chris Albrecht said in a statement, via Harper's BAZAAR, that fans would see Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) "facing new challenges, adversaries, and adventures" in Outlander Season 5 and 6. The fan-favorite couple would explore American history as they continue the Frasers' story settling in the New World.
Fans saw a lot of changes and a major cliffhanger in the previous season finale when Brianna (Sophie Skelton) gave birth to a baby boy. She also got reunited with her parents and the love of her life, Roger (Richard Rankin), but Young Ian (John Bell) had to sacrifice himself to be part of the Mohawk tribe so he could return. The most startling moment was when Governor Tryon sent Jamie a letter, asking him to build an army against the Regulators (Tim Downie), and capture and kill his godfather and companion Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix).
In an interview, Heughan hinted Outlander Season 5 would be exciting because it would set up the "whole world and different political sides" with Murtagh. "It's going to be tough," he teased.
It is not the first time that Jamie has to do this thing. Heughan continued to say Jamie would think he could do it in Outlander Season 5. "He can play with fate and play with history, maybe to his detriment," he revealed.
