Well, evidently there was an article in yesterday’s New York Times, regarding (among other things) the possibility of Katherine Heigl playing Claire in a film version of OUTLANDER. It’s not like there haven’t been all kinds of rumors about everything you could imagine, over the last ten years or so–but this seems to have stirred up a lot of folk, many of whom asked me to post something on the matter.
Had a quick glance at several assorted articles on the subject (to which folk have been sending me links). All of said articles contain the usual amount of careless inaccuracy that you usually see. You really shouldn’t get excited about any details mentioned in that sort of piece–like “Scottish heroine,” for instance.
That said, I haven’t ever seen Ms. Heigl act, but would certainly extend her the courtesy of waiting to see.
Hey I'm British and have dark hair, I could play the part of Claire. Well I mean if anyone's even considering that "one trick pony" to play the part then why not me.
I must echo all the NO's for KH. Please no!
Although no one is going to measure up to how we visualize Jamie and Claire, I'm beginning to think that the best bet for an Outlander cast would be a bunch of unknown actors.
Hi, romantic!
I'm sorry I had to remove your post (and was obliged to rush off in a hurry before telling you). There was nothing wrong with it at all, but the film people had asked me please to edit the post to remove some references that might be considered sensitive and your post happened to refer to something in the original posting; that's all.
My apologies!
Hi, Diana. No problem at all. No need for apologies. I adore your Jamie and Claire so deeply that when I heard the news, I felt compelled to rush here and state my feelings.
I think it is just as important to cast the right Claire as it is to find the perfect Jamie. And, so, I can not get behind an Outlander movie that stars KHeigl.
And, I think I know which parts of my post the film people considered sensitive. But, nevertheless, were truth. It is a matter of public record the characterization I have given. I beg you to take them into consideration when casting Claire.
Thank you for hearing me out. I really appreciate it.
I don't wanna movie…. :(.. I am fully grasping onto my inner , sniffling, whining child this morning to complain throughly.. Brought to you with full toddler theatrics, learned to perfection from watching my son.. In a desperate attempt to get what it is that I, want…so…
I don't wanna a movie.. it NEEDS to be a series… Please Movie Developing guru's who have the big screen lives of our beloved Jamie and Clare in there creatively genius hands… PLEASE.. Don't attempt to edit there mazing lives, and stuff the 'Important' or 'Ticket Selling content into a 2 2 1/2 hour slot…
Please make it a Series, with a season per Book.. That would be perfection…..
End of Rant… Lol. Sorry, simply couldn't help myself.
Stories like these always make my heart skip a beat – repeatedly, for an hour or longer.
By the time Hollywood gets around to making a movie out of OUTLANDER, I'll probably be "too old" to play Claire (heck, in "Hollywood time," I was already too old when I was exactly Claire's age!)…but my consolation prize will be playing 50+-year-old Claire in the regular TV series (which is a figment of my own eerily successful prognosticating imagination…:) ). My vision for Diana's saga – if I may be so bold – has always been that OUTLANDER would make an excellent miniseries, and the rest of the books would make a great 8 (or 9, or 10, or ???) regularly-running series, if not on network TV than with a cable network willing to roll the dice on these "weird" books and the incredible story they tell.
Congratulations on the #1 slot, DG and HN!
Cheers ~
Emily
http://www.emilybach.net
Keri Russell could play Claire. And Allan Scott Douglass would work as Jamie. I would prefer like an HBO series or something like that rather than a movie. The books just have too much to put into a two hour movie.
KH – NO!!! Claire Forlani – YES! YES!
I just watched part of The Ugly Truth again after reading this post and the NYT article.
I admit she's had some bad movies. I admit she's not all that funny. I admit she's kind of stiff.
But for all that, I did catch several "Claire moments" as I watched The Ugly Truth. I think she could maybe do it.
maybe we should all take a breath and give her a chance…
Besides, what's the other option? Wait another 10 years for a movie? At least it sounds like she really cares about doing this one right.
I don't know very much about KH, but I don't think she has anything to play Claire.
The only actress that seems to be right is Keira Knightly.
As per Alan playing Jaimie,PLEASE NOOO!!
He must be a nice guy, but if what I saw in the musical is any sample,there cannot be more distance betwent the two.He is to nice and soft
for the role
Your books are too good to be done in a bad movie. I'm sure that you will find the right people, don't rush!
Hi Diana,
I've just posted a comment and it came anonymous, my name is Dalma, but I don't know why I cannot get in on my account
Not a fan of KHeigl & I like the idea of casting unknowns, but am afraid that Hollywood needs an A or B-lister to carry this film. That said, I find that Emily Blunt could portray Claire beautifully! She's younger than Kate & Rachel, which I love, but I loved her in The Young Victoria. It was sooo good!! How can you not see her as Claire?!
I think it's funny that so many people are denigrating Katherine Heigl because she's blonde. Hair can be changed–I think it's more important what kind of presence an actor has. KH is feisty. She took a lot of flak for making feminist comments about "Knocked Up" and frankly, that seems pretty Claire-like to me. If she can get the accent right, I think she has the right kind of presence and strength to play a heroine like Claire. I would look forward to an Outlander movie starring KH.
I inwardly groaned when I read that Heigl may be Claire.
For one, she's too tall and too thin (unless your talking starving Claire just before she returns to Frank). Jamie refers to her ample bottom, and Hiegl doesn't have one. Too doe eyed.
Heigl may be feisty but onscreen she's feisty in a really innocent way. She never comes across as being serious. The only scene where I felt she was serious was with Denny in Grey's Anatomy. This is the scene that gets me watching Heigl's other movies, but the depth she shows in the Denny scene never comes across in the movies and, therefore, leaves the movie lacking.
I can see her as a glaring, jealous Laoghaire (although wrong body type for older Laoghaire). Or possibly a glaring, devious Geillis. But not Claire. Please not Claire. Anyone else that has been mentioned (like those listed above) are better suited for Claire.
Maybe KH doesn’t have the right looks to play Claire. But let’s not forget that this is Hollywood we are talking about. They can turn her into Claire.
As for her acting, I believe, the comments have been beyond hard. There is so much an actor can do with the scripts their agents hand out to them. I’m a screenwriter and script consultant. I also served as a judge for script contests for several years. It is appalling to see the scripts that get to the big screen. Lately, due to the low quality of the screenplays produced, good actors tend to look like novices. Like in any industry work is work. Actors have to work, even if it is with a bad script. But when they get a good script and director, they can finally show their skills.
I do have a suggestion for Claire though: Scarlett Johansson. She has the looks, in “The Other Boleyn Girl”, she showed her British accent, and she is a great actress.
Dear Diana
I saw you in DC a few weeks ago and had hoped to ask you a few questions, but as the line as I believe was almost 600 strong by the time I got to you it had become such a rush that there was no chance, so I was wondering as it the 20th anniversary is coming up are you going to feel sad or relieved when your story of Jamie and Claire comes to an end? Or will you continue with the next generation?
I have lived in the USA for almost 19 years and it has flown, does it feel like you just started on this journey?
I would love to know why every one is coming up with American actors, doesn't it make sense to hire a cast from England and Scotland. There is nothing worse than someone trying to do an accent that they are not born too, very few can pull it off. There are so many fabulous actors and actresses over there and I would assume for the most part, it will be filmed there.
I still have a great suggestion for LJG, Luke Webber is an up and coming actor who is presenting studying at "Mount View" in London whose Patron is Dame Judy Dench. He can not only act but has a fabulous fabulous singing voice. I hope that Ms. Gabaldon has a say with whom the studio picks for her characters, as I remember that Anne Rice was not so happy in the beginning with the pick of Tom Cruise for Lestat, although he proved to do a good job.
Thank you again for the beautiful story, we all hope you continue.
Yours sincerely
Michelle K
Virginia/England
Dear Michelle–
I'm pretty sure that when Jamie and Claire are done, so is the series. Remains to be seen, though. Glad you've been enjoying it!
I'm all in favor of UK actors/actresses, but the choice is not mine. The film people occasionally ask my opinion out of politeness [g], but they aren't obliged to take it.
–Diana
When I envision Jaime I see KEVIN McKIDD!!!!! He's got red hair, very tall, blue eyes and he's SCOTTISH!! And we've see him in film being a tough guy, so you know he can pull that part off. As well as the gentle man/father. Not to mention I think he is damn sexy!!!
Claire, I'm still not settled on an actress but Katherine Heigl was never in the running in my mind. Sorry
Laura Pulver is who I see for Claire.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3091498/
Please not KH… don't like her, don't see her as Claire at all. She's already playing Stephanie Plum and I love that series of books too, I don't want her to ruin two of my visions of how my images of main charaters would be. If she's in it then you know the script is cut and dry and will probably be nothing like the book, not that a 2 or 3 hour movie could live up to the book but still, please not her. I imagine some british actress, maybe Kate Berkinsale, not sure of the spelling of her name but it's close. If they choose her then there's no hope.
Hollie