Outlander Season 3 Air Date, News Update: How Is The Series Different From Books?

"Outlander Season 3" is taking fans away from the Diana Gabaldon' novels in the new Starz episodes. "Outlander Season 3" though will start exactly where season 2 left off at the historic battle of Culloden.

"Outlander" executive producer Ronald D. Moore told to EW that Season 3 will begin with the 1746 Battle of Culloden. This being between the French-backed highlanders and the British army, is a considerable veering away from the beginning of Voyager, the third book in the series from which "Outlander Season 3" is based.

And so it begins.....S3@Outlander_STARZ

— Maril Davis (@TallShipProds) August 21, 2016

"It just felt like for the TV show, we've been promising this for a while and it just felt like we should have something," he said of the conflict first revealed in the "Outlander Season 2" finale. According to Moore the "Outlander" audience deserves to have an exposition about the moor incident.

"Outlander" book fans expecting a battle-worn Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) with barely any memory of the battle are in for a surprise. The "Outlander Season 3" premiere episode will show a dramatic duel between Jamie and his nemesis Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall (Tobias Menzies).

"Outlander Season 3" is a thrilling change to the novel. "We're playing it out more," he adds.

A number of big developments are planned for "Outlander Season 3" including Jamie's romantic reunion with Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and their much-awaited quest on the high seas. It was also confirmed that British actress Sophie Skelton will reprise her role as the fiercely independent Brianna, the daughter of Jamie and Claire, and Scottish actor Richard Rankin will return as the good-natured Roger Wakefield for the drama.

According to Cinema Blend, the Outlander series was renewed for both third and fourth season on June 1, 2016. Filming for season 3 started on August 21, 2016 and is expected to premiere early 2017.