Outlander Season 6: Could the next Droughtlander and beyond be shorter?

We’re still waiting for Outlander Season 5, but we’re already looking ahead at the break for Season 6. We know it’s coming, but could it be shorter?

We know another Droughtlander is coming, and we haven’t even finished the recent one. Outlander Season 5 is almost here and that will mean we’re getting ready for the break until Season 6. Is there any chance that it and future Droughtlanders will be shorter?

I think the next one will be. Writing for the season has already begun. Filming for the fifth season will end in a couple of weeks and then the editing process can begin. The production could shut down for four or five months and then pick back up again in April 2020. That would allow the cast to do other projects if they want, while also timing for the better Scottish weather to avoid major filming delays.

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One of the great benefits of the sixth book—and so the sixth season—is that the story is in the Colonies or Scotland. Both are filmed in Scotland, which means that there’s no need to fly various members out to other countries, securing permits and visas etc. The majority of the sets will also have already been built, which further reduces the pre-production work needed.

With that in mind, we could see filming begin soon after it ends for Season 5. That would mean about seven to eight months of filming for the 12 episodes, so it’s possible to see the sixth season premiere in February 2021. That would be 12 months from the fifth season premiere.

If production and STARZ agree on a future for the seventh season early enough, this pattern could follow. Preferably, Season 7 will be confirmed shortly after the fifth season finishes its run on STARZ. That allows the writing team to get to work in summer 2020 and keeps production following properly to keep the Droughtlanders to a minimum.

This is an ideal world and not exactly what will happen. But we can have hope for shorter Droughtlanders, right?

Do you think shorter Droughtlanders are possible? What are you doing during this Droughtlander? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Outlander Season 5 premieres on Feb. 16 on STARZ.