Outlander star John Bell has expressed a desire to continue on in his role as Young Ian on the show beyond the planned upcoming seasons.
The actor has portrayed Jamie Fraser’s nephew since season 3 in 2017, and will soon return in the long-awaited sixth outing.
However, beyond the seventh season, things remain uncertain – though in an exclusive chat with Digital Spy, John expressed his love for the role, saying there was so much more to explore.
“When the new book [the ninth in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series] came out in November, I flicked right to that last page to check: ‘Is he still there – great!’ I was thinking ‘Please don’t die, please don’t die’, so of course I want to keep going,” he said.
“I love this character with all my heart – all the characters you play, you feel they sort of live in you a little bit after the job’s done, and I’m not done with Young Ian yet. He’s got so much cool stuff to come, and I want to tell those stories.”
John went on to reveal that he “can’t wait” to film season 7, saying: “It’s a really nice way to start the year by doing [one-man show The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me], doing something different, breaking it up a bit, playing a new character, but I am very excited to get back in that Mohawk once again.
“My favourite part of the day is the make up in the morning, I get to sit there and have a goss, have a blab, and then go from looking scrawny to being a ‘warrior’. I put that coat on and Caitríona [Balfe] comes up to me and says, ‘You’re looking butch today, John.’ Oh yeah!”
The star also admitted he was “so grateful” to the show for giving him “that opportunity to grow from a young teen child actor to adult actor on screen”.
“I’ve grown up with the show so it has been amazing. And I have grown up with this character,” he added. “I don’t know when we go back [on set to film season seven], but I think they said spring, so hopefully it’s soon!”
Outlander is due to return for season 6 on March 6
Source: digitalspy.com