The author of Outlander wanted the Northern Ireland actor to play a lead role

Liam Neeson could have starred opposite Caitriona Balfe in an Outlander movie.

The Northern Ireland actor was chosen by the book’s author to play the role of Jamie Fraser in the film. Caitriona Balfe, from Dublin, plays Jamie’s wife Claire Fraser in the historical drama series set in the Scottish Highlands.

The first Outlander book was to be turned into a film before the TV series was created. Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon was first published over 30 years ago.

However, the movie was never made and the books were brought to life on the TV series on Starz. The author said she wanted Neeson, 71, to play the lead role of Jamie Fraser in the proposed movie.

Speaking to EOnline, Gabaldon said: “This was years ago when I was first approached about adapting Outlander, when it was a feature film.

“Liam Neeson and Sean Connery were the first contenders for Jamie.”

Scottish actor Sam Heughan stars opposite Caitriona Balfe in Outlander (Image: Starz)
Neeson previously played a Scottish character when he starred in the 1995 movie Rob Roy. The actor played Rob Roy MacGregor, a clan chieftain in 18th-century Scotland, and wore a kilt for the role.

Show bosses previously revealed they struggld to cast the role of Claire Fraser until Caitriona Balfe did a last-minute audition.

Showrunner Ronald D Moore said: “We didn’t find her (Caitriona Balfe) until very late in the game. She taped her own audition and sent it in.

“We just were like pretty certain from her tape that she was the one. And then when we saw the chemistry test, we were convinced.”