Why did Outlander replace Laura Donnelly with Kristin Atherton as Jenny?

OUTLANDER has returned with caller episodes of the seventh series, featuring a notable formed change.

A antithetic histrion plays the relation of Jenny Murray, who hadn't been seen connected the amusement since play three.

When Claire (Caitriona Balfe), Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Young Ian (John Bell) instrumentality to Lallybroch aft years successful America, they are reunited with the Fraser household matriarch — though she is present portrayed by a antithetic actress.

From the commencement of the archetypal until the extremity of the third season of Outlander, the relation of Jenny Murray was played by Northern Ireland's Laura Donnelly.

But connected the character's instrumentality to the amusement successful occurrence 9 of play seven, English histrion Kristin Atherton assumed the role.

Kristin told Decider: “From the 2nd I got this job, I was like, ‘There is nary mode you tin measurement into Laura’s shoes'.

“I’m a immense instrumentality of hers, anyway. I’ve seen her connected stage. She’s phenomenal.

"So it became evident to maine truly quickly, don’t effort [to beryllium her]. Just conscionable bash what you tin do.”

While Starz announced that Laura would beryllium replaced by Kristin erstwhile season six finished successful 2022, nary authoritative crushed was revealed astatine the clip and 1 hasn't been forthcoming since.

Laura had not appeared successful an occurrence of Outlander since 2017.

Here we instrumentality look astatine the imaginable reasons down the changeover of actresses.

Smaller relation & pregnancy

Laura portrayed Jenny Murray successful the earlier seasons of Outlander, but near for different roles erstwhile the storyline moved the main protagonists distant from Scotland successful 2017, meaning the quality of Jenny would not beryllium featuring successful storylines.

During this period, she was besides pregnant with her 2nd child.

After she stepped distant from the relation for these reasons, her acting docket besides became highly busy.

Scheduling conflicts

Since her past quality successful play three, Laura has taken connected a fig of roles, which could precise good person affected her determination not to instrumentality to the show.

Her vocation took disconnected successful assorted directions, including:

• Starring successful HBO's The Nevers
• Appearing successful films specified arsenic Tolkien (2019) and The Heist Before Christmas (2023)
• Taking connected Broadway roles, including The Ferryman (2018-19) wherever she starred alongside Hugh Jackman and won the Laurence Olivier Award for champion actress, and The Hills of California (2024-?)

These commitments, peculiarly her Broadway performances, would person made it hard for Laura to instrumentality to the Outlander acceptable for play seven.

Why was Kristin Atherton formed arsenic Jenny Murray?

Kristin was chosen to instrumentality implicit the relation of Jenny Murray successful Outlander for respective reasons.

She had initially auditioned for the relation erstwhile Laura was archetypal cast, indicating her long-standing involvement successful the character.

The caller storyline required an histrion who could represent Jenny astatine antithetic ages — successful her 20s and 50s — some younger and older versions than Laura had played.

Outlander showrunner Matthew B. Roberts hinted astatine the flexibility that clip question elements bring to the show, allowing them to revisit characters successful antithetic eras and places.

He said successful a connection to Business Insider: "One of the galore joys of our epic communicative is the constituent of clip question which allows america to revisit immoderate of our favourite characters successful antithetic times and places,"

This communicative instrumentality whitethorn person besides influenced the determination to recast, arsenic it opens up possibilities for exploring Jenny's quality astatine assorted points successful her life.

In the UK, Outlander play seven, portion 2 dropped connected Amazon Prime Video and MGM+ astatine 1am connected Saturday, November 23, 2024.

In the US, the play premier aired connected Starz astatine 8pm ET connected November 22, 2024, with consequent episodes being broadcast each Friday astatine the aforesaid clip — they are besides disposable connected the premium channel's streaming service.