“We’re forging real friendships”
Sam Heughan on the legacy of Outlander and the supportive fans.
Listen to #RadioScotlandAfternoons on BBC Sounds.
#RSVis 7 h
‘Ascension’: ‘Outlander’s Caitriona Balfe Sets TV Return in Alfonso Cuarón’s Psychological Thriller
Meaghan DarwishAugust 10, 2026, 2:42 pm
Caitriona Balfe is setting her first major TV role post-Outlander as she teams up with Alfonso Cuarón for Apple TV‘s Ascension.
The star is trading in the romantic fantasy drama genre for what is being described as a psychological horror thriller series. Along with the premise and creatives behind this project, Apple has offered a closer peek at what viewers can expect from Ascension. Below, we break down everything we know so far.
When does Ascension premiere?
Ascension doesn’t have a premiere date at Apple TV yet, as it has yet to film, but keep an eye out for additional information as it takes shape.
What is Ascension about?
Ascension is inspired by Adam Nevill’s novel Last Days and follows Rose, a recently divorced mother and relentless documentarian who has a knack for uncovering people’s truths, but struggles with facing her own. When Rose begins working on a project revolving around a mysterious 20th-century cult known as the Church of Ascension, she begins to find refuge in its teachings, until she realizes something evil is lurking beneath.
The show explores evil and innocence and asks the question: How far will you go and what will you sacrifice to protect the ones you love, even when you may be the biggest threat?
Who stars in Ascension?
Currently, Outlander‘s Caitriona Balfe is the only star attached to Ascension so far, but stay tuned for an update as the cast expands behind the scenes.
Who is making Ascension?
Ascension is hailing from Alfonso Cuarón. The series is being co-showrun by Natalie Erika James and Christian White and is written by James, White, Alfonso Cuarón, and Carlos Cuarón. James will also serve as the lead director on the project hailing from Apple Studios. In addition to starring in the show, Balfe executive produces Ascension with Alfonso Cuarón, who has an overall deal with Apple through his production company Esperanto Filmjo. Other executive producers include Gabriela Rodriguez, Richard Schwartz, Carlos Cuarón, Steve Golin, David Levine, Zack Hayden, James, and White. The series is produced by Anonymous Content.
Somewhere in the deep, quiet hours of the night, he turned to me without a word, and I to him, and we made love to each other in a slow, unspeaking tenderness that left us lying still at last, in possession of each other’s secrets.
Calke Abbey in Derbyshire was used as a filming location for the eighth and final season of Outlander, doubling as 18th-century Savannah.
Filming for Outlander brought new life to the stableyards at Calke, transforming the historic buildings into a vibrant 18th-century setting. The estate's historic stableyards were transformed into a bustling 18th-century market, military garrison, rope works, print shop, livery, and harbour entrance with blue-screen setups. Production involved over 100 supporting artists, horses, a stunt team, and specialist crew. With cast and crew on site from July to September 2024, this was the first time Calke had been used as a major fictional filming location – an exciting moment for the property and its story.
Fergus and Marsali
Fergus in the Print Shop
Brianna and Roger
Just weeks after Outlander finished, Calke became the set for the highly anticipated Netflix movie, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Filming took place in mid-November to early December 2024, with stars Cillian Murphy, Rebecca Ferguson, Packy Lee and Sophie Rundle shooting scenes inside the house, as well as the stableyards and surrounding parkland.
What you'll see when you next visit Calke
To mark the release of both productions, there will be new ways to explore Calke's on-screen transformation. Download a walking route using the link below to take in the key filming locations across the estate and discover how familiar spaces were adapted for the screen. Inside the House, look out for new interpretation inspired by Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, sharing behind-the-scenes stories and images showing how Calke was altered for filming. Additional interpretation in the Stableyards will reveal how the spaces were dressed, disguised and digitally enhanced to create worlds far removed from present-day Derbyshire.
Filming Locations Walk
Experience Calke as seen on screen with this walking trail that explores the key moments from features in 'Outlander' Season 8 and 'Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man'.
Rapunzel reuniting with her parents on the Tangled Live-Action Remake set. The Queen is played by Caitriona Balfe #tangled #tangledliveaction #teagancroft #milomanheim 11 h
After the whole Ring Hullaballoo, Deux Moi did offer a very predictable update in their latest issue of the Cheat Sheet weekly newsletter:
[Source: @deuxmoi's IG account - posted August 3, 2026]
It goes like this:
[Source: by courtesy, with many thanks, always 😘]
The style and the tattoo obsessive mention point, one more time, to *urv.
Not the only thing to backtrack, today and in record time - yes, Margot, you can tell your three non NPC followers that it was 'shippers and haters' - like you always do, because I'll give you at least this: you are a consistent mythomaniac. However, the initial clip, that featured S, Madam Mao plus the little girl, and was immediately posted by the troll, was also edited by the official Glasgow Commonwealth Games' IG account almost in real time.
The new version just features Madam Mao and S, as seen from behind:
[Source: @glasgow2026's IG account - posted August 3, 2026]
Something glitched and editorial decisions happened. If you want to see the old version, the troll posted it. I am not exposing a fragile child and I am not giving this #shitshow unnecessary extra airtime, just for clicks and giggles.
She always pops up around one of his events, and she always makes sure everyone knows when she's nearby, especially after he's reportedly been spotted somewhere and she just happens to be in the area. I guess that's part of the job.
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