Sam Heughan's post Outlander plans may shock some of his biggest fans

Sam Heughan, widely recognized for his role as Jamie Fraser in Outlander, is planning to make a significant career shift as the series concludes.

With a solid foundation in theater from his days at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Sam is eager to return to his first love, the stage.

He has an impressive background in theater, having performed in major plays like Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.

As Outlander draws to a close, Sam’s aspirations to re-engage with the theater world grow stronger.

This move might come as a surprise to those who know him best from time-traveling drama.

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In a revealing interview with Square Mile, Sam shared his aspirations to return to theater after his long stint on Outlander.

He expressed his admiration for James McAvoy’s performance in Cyrano, recalling how James, a mentor from his drama school days, inspired him.

"I started in theatre, I'd love to go back to theatre. I recently saw James McAvoy in Cyrano and he was brilliant. I know James from drama school and he was my mentor. I saw him onstage at drama school and to see him there is kind of an amazing journey. I feel like I've got it in me as well,” Sam shared.

He also candidly discussed his "biggest career regret," a botched Welsh accent during an audition at London's Donmar Warehouse for a Dylan Thomas play.

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Sam discussed a particularly tough audition experience, where he struggled with a Welsh accent given only a weekend to prepare. He ultimately failed the audition.

He also opened up about the impending conclusion of Outlander, noting, "God, it's a funny one. We've been talking about it. What will I miss?"

He shared that despite the grueling routine, the camaraderie on set made it worthwhile: "It's hard work, it's full on, but you're all in it together."

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Long before his fame on Outlander, Sam was making a name for himself in the theater.

He was nominated for the Most Promising Performer at the Laurence Olivier Awards for his role in Outlying Islands, a play by David Greig.

The production first appeared in Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre in 2002 and later in London's Royal Court Theatre.

Critics like Lyn Gardner of The Guardian praised the play as "wild, strange, fascinating and deeply unsettling," and Metro lauded it as a "wonderful play full of myth and poetry, sex and death."

The reviews highlighted the exceptional performances of the young cast, including Sam, Laurence Mitchell, and Lesley Hart.

Outlander returns with season 7 part 2 this November, season 8 should follow in 2025.