Matthew B. Roberts confirms he is the writer for Outlander Season 5, Episode 1

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 18: Executive producers Ronald D. Moore, Toni Graphia, Matthew B. Roberts and Maril Davis arrive at Starz's "Outlander" FYC Special Screening and Panel at the Linwood Dunn Theater at the Pickford Center for Motion Study on March 18, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 18: Executive producers Ronald D. Moore, Toni Graphia, Matthew B. Roberts and Maril Davis arrive at Starz's "Outlander" FYC Special Screening and Panel at the Linwood Dunn Theater at the Pickford Center for Motion Study on March 18, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

Outlander Season 5 filming is underway. Not only has Matthew B. Roberts confirmed that but he’s also confirmed an important role he’s taken on for the first episode.

If you haven’t been following the Outlander cast and crew on Twitter, then you will have missed a tweet from Matthew B. Roberts. Yes, a tweet; he’s back on the social media platform. He has confirmed that not only is Outlander Season 5 filming underway but that he’s also the writer for the very first episode.

This isn’t all that surprising. Usually, it’s one of the “higher ups” in production who will write the premieres and finales. In the past, that honor was given to Ron D. Moore. Despite still the official showrunner, he’s stepped back from that role and left the day-to-day running of the series to Roberts and Toni Graphia. Maril Davis also has an important hand in the overall running.

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So, with that in mind, it’s not surprising that Roberts is the writer for the fifth season premiere. He was also the writer for the Outlander Season 4 premiere, as well as the important episode “The Birds and the Bees.”

Roberts has done a number of major episodes. In Season 1, he crafted “The Reckoning” and he was the mastermind behind the second season finale. He also wrote “All Debts Paid,” “A. Malcolm,” and many more episodes that are considered favorites by many fans. In fact, it was a fan commending him for his writing that led to Roberts confirming that he is the writer for the premiere.

What isn’t clear is whether the show is filming the first episode right now. It likely is based on the photos that have been shared by the cast, but Outlander doesn’t necessarily film in order. It opts to film in blocks, working with the seasons in Scotland, the need for the actors, and around guest actor schedules.

Nor is it clear where the fifth season will pick up. There was a chunk at the very end of “Drums of Autumn” missed out from the fourth season. It’s possible that those parts will be covered before moving onto the storyline in “The Fiery Cross.”

What do you think about Roberts writing the Outlander Season 5 premiere? What do you hope to see in the episode? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Outlander Season 5 filming is now underway. Follow Claire and Jamie on Twitter for more updates on the filming process.