Outlander star Sam Heughan has shared a behind-the-scenes snap from the set of the show’s sixth season, as production began amid the coronavirus crisis.
The Scottish actor, 40, took to Twitter on Tuesday to post a photo which saw him act alongside his co-star Caitriona Balfe as a camera crew filmed them from a platform.
Sharing his delight at being able to return to set in Scotland, Sam claimed he felt ‘very fortunate to be working’ amid the coronavirus crisis.
They’re back! Outlander star Sam Heughan shared a behind-the-scenes look at filming via Twitter as production began on the show’s sixth season on Tuesday
Sam and Caitriona transformed into their characters Jamie and Claire Fraser by wearing period costumes for the scene, which saw them talk to each other while using a horse and cart.
The actors appeared to be in good spirits as they filmed despite the cold weather, with Sam joking that a blizzard wasn’t going to stop the shoot.
In the caption, he wrote: ‘We’re BACK!! Season 6 shooting! Feel very fortunate to be working right now, production are ensuring everyone is safe and protected. Now just need to deal with the snow….’
Delighted: Sharing his delight at being able to return to set in Scotland, Sam claimed he felt ‘very fortunate to be working’ amid the coronavirus crisis
Back at work: Sam and his co-star Caitriona Balfe transformed into their characters Jamie and Claire Fraser by wearing period costumes for the scene (pictured in season five)
On Tuesday, Outlander executive producer Matthew B. Roberts said repeated testing and strict protocols has been the key to filming the show’s sixth season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, amid a storyline that calls for close contact.
‘I didn’t want me or the staff changing what the story is for COVID,’ Roberts told Elle. ‘We have a lot of intimate scenes – that’s where we live and breathe.’
Roberts stressed the importance of onset health protocols to ensure smooth production on the series, which stars Balfe and Heughan.
The latest: On Tuesday, Outlander executive producer Matthew B. Roberts said repeated testing and strict protocols has been the key to filming the show’s sixth season
‘Testing, testing, testing, testing,’ he said. ‘We had to figure out how to make sure we tested everybody a million times before they walked onto set and keep that bubble as safe as possible.
‘That was our main focus – making sure everybody feels safe walking onto a set in the studios and locations.’
Roberts said plans were initially in the works to continue production until the pandemic hit, bringing the entertainment industry to a halt.
‘We wanted to keep our momentum from season five,’ he said. ‘The cast and the crew, and I think even the fans, were very excited to get right into season six. And then we decided to hit the brakes.’
Delays: Roberts said plans were initially in the works to continue production after they finished filming season five, but the pandemic hit and brought the entertainment industry to a halt
Roberts also explained the impact of the coronavirus on how he penned the scenes, with health officials suggesting people remain six feet apart in an effort to curtail the spread of the virus.
‘I don’t know how to write “COVID-friendly scenes,” certainly not an Outlander scene, because we are going to have people next to each other, being emotional – you talk close to people, and that’s where it transfers COVID,’ Roberts told the outlet. ‘We had to figure out, how do we keep Outlander, Outlander? So we wrote the scripts and dove in with production.’
He said that he and the show’s production officials went over the logistics of shooting and devised ways to work around problematic scenarios.
‘We said, “Okay, this scene can’t happen like this. If we did this, this, and this, then we can make it happen,”‘ he said.
Action: Reflecting on restrictions, he said: ‘I don’t know how to write “COVID-friendly scenes,” certainly not an Outlander scene, because we are going to have people next to each other’