Cult romance time-travel drama Outlander is going to end with its 8th season. But, if you're a fan, know that all things Outlander is in pretty good shape. First of all, season 7 hasn't aired yet. That'll be 16 episodes. That final 8th season will be another 10 episodes. So that's a good 26 episodes still left of a cancelled series. But that's not all: a spin-off prequel has been announced.

Starz has also given a formal green light to a prequel series titled Outlander: Blood of My Blood. It will chronicle the the love story of Jamie Fraser’s parents, Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie. Matthew B. Roberts will continue showrunning duties from the main series. Gabaldon is a consulting producer.

“Outlander: Blood of My Blood is, at its heart, a love story. It will explore what lengths a person will go to find love in a time when love is considered a luxury, and when marriages are made strategically, often for political or financial gain,” said Roberts. “The title is a nod to Jamie Fraser’s marriage vow to Claire and there will be several names and faces that Outlander fans will know and recognize."

If only all cancelled TV shows were cancelled so generously.

‘Outlander’ to End With Season 8 on Starz
The premium cabler has also given a formal series order to a prequel, ‘Blood of My Blood.’
The Hollywood ReporterRick Porter

It is a different story for the Gossip Girl reboot. After two seasons, streamer HBO Max slowed its car down and rolled the Gossip Girl corpse out the door and then took off.

Showrunner Josh Safran says that the show will be shopped around elsewhere, but considering that the reboot never seemed to generate much traction, I'm not expecting to see it reanimated.

‘Gossip Girl’ Revival Canceled at HBO Max
There will not be a third season of the update of the former CW original. Showrunner Josh Safran says the series will be shopped.
The Hollywood ReporterLesley Goldberg

HUGE!!! Netflix news

Netflix just announced its quarterly earnings for Q4 2022. It surpassed expectations with 7.6 million subscribers, with revenue reaching $7.85 billion for the quarter.

Netflix, In First Quarter With Ad Tier, Adds 7M-Plus Subscribers, Outperforming Expectations
The streamer had prepared Wall Street for its weakest fourth quarter since 2014 but ended the year strong.
The Hollywood ReporterJ. Clara Chan

But the big news... major executive changes.

Co-founder and co-CEO Reed Hastings will now be the executive chairman of Netflix, with chief product and chief operating officer Greg Peters elevated to the Co-CEO role.

Hastings:

“In the last two and a half years, I’ve increasingly delegated the management of Netflix to them,” Mr. Hastings said in a statement, noting that Mr. Sarandos and Mr. Peters have dealt with the challenges of the pandemic and upheavals in the streaming industry. He added, “The board and I believe it’s right time to complete my succession.”

He added: “I’ll be helping Greg and Ted, and, like any good chairman, be a bridge from the board to our co-C.E.O.s. I’ll also be spending more time on philanthropy, and remain very focused on Netflix stock doing well.”

Also: Bela Bajaria gets a new job title. No longer Head of Global TV, she is now Chief Content Officer and Scott Stuber is now Chairman of Netflix Film.

Netflix’s Reed Hastings Will Cede Co-Chief Executive Role
Mr. Hastings will become the streaming giant’s executive chairman. Greg Peters will join Ted Sarandos as a co-chief executive.
NYTimesBy

An embargo

There's a show that I saw recently that I am under an embargo for. I liked the show a lot, but I haven't mentioned the show by name (this isn't like an embargo for a certain new HBO zombie show where we weren't allowed to mention that we had seen it...). I do note that Shrinking (an upcoming Apple TV+ show) co-creator Bill Lawrence retweeted this overnight:

Hanx

Tom Hanks on making the move from being a TV sitcom actor to movie star with Splash:

Ron Howard had already left the show, and he was directing, and they had written this movie called ‘Splash,' ... And it was at Disney, and no one wanted to work for Disney, and no one would take the job. And eventually they said, ‘Hey, this guy who kicked Fonzie through a plate-glass window might be good.’ And so I ended up auditioning for that.”
I remember going over to the Disney studios and it had not been refurbished. They had built it in like 1958 and it hadn’t changed a bit. It looked like a Greyhound bus station in Selma, Alabama.
  • Netflix has acquired Sundance film Run Rabbit Run ahead of the film festival. Read: Deadline
  • Bradley Whitford will guest star as a murderer (?) in an upcoming Law & Order: SVU. Read: Variety
  • In reviewing That 90s Show, the That 70s Show reboot now streaming on Netflix, Dave Nemetz calls the show "a major bummer." Read: TV Line
  • The Afterparty will return April 28 for its second season on Apple TV+. Read: thefutoncritic
  • Ted Lasso will return for its third (and final??? So go the rumours...) season on Apple TV+ in the US Spring of this year. Read: Paste

Bel-Air returns for season 2 Feb 23 on Peacock.

Dear Edward debuts Feb 4 on Apple TV+.

That's it for today and another week. Always Be Watching will be back in your inbox next week. The ABW supporter email Always Be Streaming will be in your inbox later today (It goes behind the paywall in just a few weeks time).