Thanks to the flash-forward in the Outlander season finale, we got to see what an older Claire looks and acts like — but we won’t be privy to how aging affects her 18th-century husband Jamie until we return in season three. When Vulture caught up with actor Sam Heughan at a screening of Star Trek Beyond on Monday night, we inquired about how he’s prepping to play an older Jamie. “I’m thinking about getting really fat,” he joked. “I’m thinking eating a lot and not working out would be really good.” But Heughan knows that’s not in his character’s best interests. “Do we really want to see that?” he quickly added, shaking his head.
“It’s less about his appearance, and more about who he is without Claire,” Heughan said. He’s read the first season-three script (penned by showrunner Ron D. Moore), and he’s also boning up on his Outlander series reading, spending time with both Voyager and John Grey spinoff books, such as The Scottish Prisoner.
“It’s going to be a completely different show,” Heughan said. “Next year’s stuff is probably the most interesting, in a way. We’ve been setting it up, setting the stage, introducing these characters, and now it goes into new, different worlds.” For one, the Caribbean, which will be a major locale change for the story as the characters set sail, although it’s yet to be determined where the production will actually shoot those scenes. Hawaii? Jamaica? Heughan votes for the latter: “Going to Jamaica would be nice! Piña coladas!”