Aye, Sassenach, the "Outlander" Season 2's beautiful finale, showrunner Ronald D. Moore said fans would have Season 3 sooner than they thought. "The Droughtlander won't be as long as they expect."

His words led to hope of an early premiere, like very soon, since Season 1 premiered in August, and both Seasons 2 and 3 started in April. But instead, the "Outlander" clan just got the cold water splash update that Season 3 will not arrive on Starz until September.

September!

We dinna think we'd have to wait that long. Starz announced the Season 3 premiere month today, but not the specific day.

According to TVLine, the 13-episode Season 3 will feature episodes shot in Scotland and South Africa, with that country subbing for the Caribbean locations of the third "Outlander" book, "Voyager."

Here's a statement from Starz President of Programming Carmi Zlotnik, anticipating fans's disappointment:

"While Droughtlander will last just a little longer, we feel it is important to allow the production the time and number of episodes needed to tell the story of the Voyager book in its entirety. The scale of this book is immense, and we owe the fans the very best show. Returning in September will make that possible."

Here's more on Season 3 from Starz's official release:

"Separated by continents and centuries, Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) must find their way back to each other. As always, adversity, mystery, and adventure await them on the path to reunion. And the question remains: When they find each other, will they be the same people who parted at the standing stones, all those years ago?"

New Season 3 cast members include Lauren Lyle as Laoghaire's daughter, Marsali; César Domboy (Borgia) as the adult Fergus; Gary Young (The Shannara Chronicles) as Mr. Willoughby; Charlie Hiett as Capt. Thomas Leonard; Wil Johnson (Waking the Dead) as Claire's friend Joe Abernathy; and John Bell (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) as Jamie and Claire's nephew Young Ian.

Fans are already reacting to the September return with variations of "Nooooooooo! Too long!!" and "Whyyyy?!!!" And one pointed out that this will disqualify the show for Emmys consideration (which is also the case for "Game of Thrones" Season 8, which usually arrives in April and will now arrive sometime in the summer).

But dinna fash yourselves: As one fan wisely put it: "I guess if Jamie and Claire can wait 20 years, we can wait 7 more months #droughtlander#agony."

[via TVLine, Entertainment Weekly]

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