John Bell, David Berry, and Charles Vandervaart tease what’s to come in Outlander season 7 (Interview)

Outlander season 7 is almost here, arriving Friday, June 16, 2023 on Starz, and it’s bringing with it all sorts of drama on and off the battlefield! There’s some unanswered questions we still have from season 6 that we’re looking forward to. But of course one of the main storylines is the much talked about American Revolution is finally here, which will effect all of our main characters. The war may also raise some conflict in a beloved friendship, as Lord John actor David Berry exclusively teased.

Hidden Remote had the opportunity to speak with John Bell, Berry, and new cast member Charles Vandervaart on what’s to come for their characters, what it’s like to portray the American Revolution, and whether they’re team Ian or team William when it comes to a certain storyline. Read on below and be sure to scroll down to the end for the video interview as well! (Plus, check out our interviews with executive producer Maril Davis, as well as new cast members Joey Phillips and Izzy Meikle-Small for more!)

John Bell, David Berry, and Charles Vandervaart on Outlander season 7

*The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Hidden Remote: The promos have been hinting at a love triangle between Ian, William, and Rachel [Izzy Meikle-Small]. Are we team Ian or team William?

Charles Vandervaart: Team William, obviously!

John Bell: Team Ian, please.

David Berry: I’m not going to get involved.

Charles: William needs some love.

John: So does Ian! [Laughs] I think it’s really exciting that in this already great love story, there’s a new love story about to appear for fans to fall in love with because nobody loves more than to root for a love. It’s going to be fun.

Charles: Maybe we can make something work with the three of us.

John: Honestly, I’m up for it.

David: Wow, it’s that kind of show.

HR: I mean, Lizzy makes it work. David, last season we see Jamie and John are on opposite sides politically. So this season, are we going to see that effect their friendship now that the war is here?

David: We’re definitely going to see the context of the war effect the relationship between Lord John and Jamie. In very dramatic and quite sad ways for Lord John. It never really works out for Lord John does it? Jamie always walks out of it the best. I think in this season, we’re really going to see Lord John cop it really bad. He’s going to hit rock bottom and get kicked while he’s down there. It doesn’t really work out very well for Lord John being on the other side of Jamie Fraser and keeping his relationship with Jamie, his love for Jamie Fraser is also going to be challenged a lot. And in the mix with that is his adult son, who we both have a deep love for. And I guess it’s a question for Charles – who’s the better parent in the end? There’s only one right answer for that.

Charles: You were the one that raised me. So I’ll give it to you. You need this win.

David: I need at least one win.

HR: I should have asked team Jamie or team John actually.

David: We all agree it’s team Jamie. [Laughs]

HR: Charles, what was it like to join the cast and be able to portray William? I’m sure these guys gave you a hard time.

Charles: The worst time, they’re the worst. Giving me faces on the other side of the camera. [Laughs] No, honestly it’s been fantastic. It was very nerve-wracking for me to come into the show. It’s so big and it’s such a great fandom. So I was a bit worried, but these guys reassured me. We have a great cast and a great crew. I just had to trust in them and we made something pretty special I think.

HR: What are you excited for fans to see about William or what did you try your hardest to portray about him?

Charles: He’s a very passionate guy and that gets quite misled because he’s naive. He doesn’t really understand the realities of war, which puts him in some difficult situations. I think sometimes he doesn’t always come out of things looking the best. But hopefully, we can empathize with William and kind of understand where he’s coming from because I think at heart he does really care about the people around him. And hopefully that’s portrayed in the character.

HR: John, no, spoilers. But Ian does unintentionally get himself into some trouble with someone on the Ridge. How is that going to affect his character going forward?

John: Just one person he’s got himself into trouble with? [Laughs] Yeah, that’s going to really test Ian’s resolve. He’s always been this person that is willing to do what needs to be done. And when this is thrown at him and he’s challenged in that way, we’re going to see potentially that side of him break a little and he’s going to have to hold on tight to keep his mind sharp and ready.

HR: We’ve been building to the American Revolution for years now. For each of your characters, how did it feel to portray it?

David: I think they’re all kind of very wary of this war that’s looming in the background. It provides a really great context for the personal dramas that happen in the show. We are a part of history. There’s characters who know what’s going to happen, there’s characters who don’t know what’s going to happen. Lord John doesn’t know what’s gonna happen. And I think that causes a lot of the stakes to be very high, particularly with people he cares about. Not just his son, but his love for the Frasers. And that puts him in a really tricky situation because his loyalties are divided.

John: Immediately when Ian first arrives to America, he just falls in love with the land and its people. So he’s going to be fiercely fighting to protect that. And as [David] said, [Lord John] doesn’t know what happens. For Ian, [he] actually does. I don’t know if we ever know whether Ian knows exactly how it’s all going to unfold, but he certainly thinks that his auntie and uncle wouldn’t choose the losing side. So he’s ready to do his part and cause some trouble baby!

Charles: I think William is very eager to go to war. He was so sheltered in England and he lives such a life of privilege. I think he wants to go out on his adventure. He doesn’t really know what that means. He doesn’t understand the realities of the world yet. But he’ll learn pretty damn quick going to war and being in this revolution.

The first half of Outlander season 7 premieres Friday, June 16, 2023 on Starz.