'Outlander' Stars Sam Heughan and Catriona Balfe Leave the Door Open for a Return: 'Never Say Never'

Outlander may have ended, but don't count out a return just yet.

Both Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter following the May 15 series finale, left the door firmly open when asked whether they would ever reprise their roles as Jamie and Claire Fraser. Their answers were careful, warm, and unmistakably non-committal in the best possible way.

"Oh, I think you never say never," Heughan said. "That's what I've learned from Jamie. You never know what's going to happen. And in this show, people can come back to life or they can travel through time."

He then offered a scenario that made him laugh. "Perhaps in 20 years, we'll come back and play older Jamie," he said. "I'll be closer to his age by then."

Balfe was similarly open. "Look, this show has given me everything, and I love the people who I've worked with so dearly," she said. "I think where Jamie and Claire are at, I don't know what their next journey would be. We don't know where they are!" - a reference to the deliberately ambiguous finale ending that has left fans debating what actually happened to the couple. "I always say, 'You never say never,' but it would be nice to have some distance and enjoy a much easier schedule for a little bit."

Why an 'Outlander' Return Is More Plausible Than It Sounds

The ambiguity of the finale itself leaves significant room for future storytelling. Diana Gabaldon's book series is not yet complete - a tenth and final novel is still to come - and the show's ending was deliberately written to avoid closing any doors permanently.

Beyond that, the Outlander universe has already demonstrated an appetite for expansion. Lord John Grey actor David Berry recently told Men's Journal that he would be "more than thrilled" to continue telling Lord John's story if a spinoff came along, noting the character has his own dedicated book series with plenty of unexplored material.

For Heughan, the connection to Jamie Fraser runs deeper than a job. "It's been such an amazing journey, and to even leave the job and to say goodbye has taken a number of years," he said. "It's been a huge part of our lives and the viewers' lives as well, so it'll always be there for us. So who knows?"

Outlander's series finale, "And the World Was All Around Us," is now streaming on Starz.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 11:03 PM.