Outlander star Tobias Menzies is best known for playing the part of both Frank and Black Jack Randall, but he could have played another character in the hit series
Outlander sensation Tobias Menzies has won hearts as both the scholarly Frank Randall and his menacing ancestor Captain ‘Black Jack’ Randall on the popular series.
Yet, what many fans may not know is that he was nearly cast in a third role within the same drama. On the official Outlander podcast, executive producer Ronald D. Moore revealed, “When they’re at Versailles, Jamie and Claire see Alex [Randall] across the way, Claire actually faints because she thinks it’s Jack because they’re almost identical.”
“And I thought you couldn’t go there in the show because we were casting Tobias as both Jack and Frank,” he continued, as per the Daily Record, “Somebody asked at one point, ‘Will you cast Tobias as Alex as well?’ That’s a bridge too far. You’re not going to get away with it.”
Joining Moore on the podcast, writer Anne Kenney remarked on Laurence Dobiesz being cast as Alex, “It’s amazing how much he looks like him.”
Moore further elaborated on the decision not to cast Menzies as Alex, “Yeah, you can’t go three times. That’s too much, so we just opted to not play that card.”
“I think it’s believable. I look at him and think absolutely that could be Tobias’ brother,” he added. Alex played a significant role in the second season of Outlander, revealing a starkly different side to Black Jack, who had been known solely for his brutality and sadism.
Despite not portraying Alex, Menzies’ characters Frank and Black Jack remain pivotal to the narrative of Outlander. Frank, portrayed as Claire Fraser’s (Caitríona Balfe) first love and the father figure to her daughter Brianna Mackenzie (Sophie Skelton), will forever be etched in their memories.
While the villainous Black Jack may have met his demise, the haunting impact of his brutality on Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) endures. Despite Black Jack’s return in Diana Gabaldon’s novel ‘Written in My Own Heart’s Blood,’ he did not grace the screen in the TV series adaptation.
The Crown and Game of Thrones alum Tobias Menzies has confirmed that he won’t reprise his role in the upcoming seventh or final seasons of Outlander. In a 2024 interview with TV Line, Menzies remarked, “What am I allowed to say? It would be great. [But] no, you will not see me.”
He added: “They’re going to bring it home magnificently, I’m sure.”