Outlander and Game of Thrones insights : crossovers between to blockbuster TV shows

Both Outlander and Game of Thrones share strong connections through Scottish actors, filming locations, and the wider UK production industry. Both stories have a strong fantasy element while being quite different thematically — one being a historical romance with time travel and the other a medieval fantasy epic – the productions overlap in several interesting ways.

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Shared Actors

Tobias Menzies

One of the most obvious connections is Tobias Menzies.

In Outlander, he plays two characters: the villainous British officer Black Jack Randall and the historian Frank Randall. His performance as Black Jack is one of the most memorable antagonists in the series.

In Game of Thrones, he appears as Edmure Tully, the lord of Riverrun. While the role is smaller, he appears across several seasons and becomes part of the political struggles between the great houses of Westeros.

Peter Mullen

Scottish actor Peter Mullan has joined the Game of Thrones universe, cast as Ser Eustace Osgrey in the second season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. This spin-off series focuses on Dunk and Egg, set 90 years before the original show’s events. Peter Mullan joined the Outlander universe in the prequel series, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, playing the role of Red Jacob MacKenzie. As the Laird of Clan MacKenzie and father to Ellen, Dougal, and Colum, his character is the maternal grandfather to Jamie Fraser.

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Nell Hudson

Another crossover actor is Nell Hudson.

In Outlander, she plays Laoghaire MacKenzie, Jamie Fraser’s complicated and often antagonistic admirer. Her character causes significant drama in the early seasons.

Before that role became well known, Hudson had a brief appearance in Game of Thrones, illustrating how actors often move between major British television productions.

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Scottish Filming Locations

Doune Castle

One of the clearest physical links between the shows is Doune Castle.

In Outlander, Doune Castle was transformed into Castle Leoch, the home of Clan MacKenzie in the first season. Many early scenes featuring Claire meeting the clan were filmed here. Doune also features extensively in the prequel Blood of my Blood . Last year I was lucky enough to visit Doune when they were filming . Doune has also featured in the Monty Python and the Outlaw King movies .

Interestingly, the same castle was used earlier as Winterfell in the original pilot episode of Game of Thrones before the production later moved Winterfell to Northern Ireland. The Feast of Winterfelll was filmed in the Great Hall at Doune Castle and it still forms a crucial part of the production history of the series.

Because of this connection, fans of both shows often visit Doune Castle when touring filming locations in Scotland.

Game of Thrones and Outlander tour full version

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Scotland’s Role in Both Productions

Although Game of Thrones is primarily associated with locations across Europe , Scotland still played a role in early production development and casting. The country’s historic castles, landscapes, and film infrastructure helped inspire the visual style of medieval Westeros.

Outlander, by contrast, is deeply rooted in Scotland. Much of the series is filmed in and around Glasgow, Edinburgh, and across the Highlands. Locations such as Midhope Castle ( Lallybroch ) , Blackness Castle, and Falkland frequently appear on screen.

The success of Game of Thrones helped demonstrate that large-scale historical and fantasy television could be hugely popular worldwide. When Outlander launched shortly afterward, it benefited from a global audience already enthusiastic about epic historical storytelling.

Game of Thrones and Eilean Donan Castle tour full description

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Tourism and Cultural Impact

Both series have had a powerful influence on screen tourism. Set jetting has encouraged fans to travel to filming locations to experience the landscapes they saw on television.

In Scotland, Outlander tourism has become especially significant. Visitors from the United States and Canada frequently travel specifically to see castles, villages, and Highland scenery connected to the show.

The popularity of Game of Thrones created a similar tourism boom in Northern Ireland, Croatia, and Iceland. Because of shared actors and locations like Doune Castle, some travellers combine both interests when exploring historic sites.

The real Game of Thrones locations in Scotland

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✅ In summary:
The connection between Outlander and Game of Thrones lies mainly in shared actors such as Tobias Menzies, crossover filming locations like Doune Castle, and the broader UK television industry that produces both shows. These overlaps highlight how major international productions often draw from the same pool of talent and historic locations.