‘Ascent’: Sam Heughan Joins Viola Davis in New Paramount+ Series!!

With Outlander having finally disappeared into the misty moors after eight seasons, one of its stars has found his next project. Sam Heughan, who starred on the series as Highland warrior Jamie Fraser, will doff his kilt for more contemporary gear in a new thriller series. He’s moving beyond the confines of Starz and into one of the biggest players in the increasingly complicated streaming landscape.

Even with his commitment to Outlander, Heughgan maintained a busy schedule over the years, starring in the TV series The Couple Next Door and a number of films, including The Spy Who Dumped Me, SAS: Red Notice, and Bloodshot. He hasn’t taken a break since Outlander took its final bow in May, either. He’s already signed on to star in the upcoming thriller series Embassy, which will star J.K. Simmons and Anna Kendrick, and centers around an attack on the US Embassy in London; it’s set to debut on MGM+ next year. And now, he’s set to star in a new series for Paramount+ alongside an acting legend and EGOT winner.

Deadline reports that Heughan will star alongside Viola Davis in the new Paramount+ thriller series Ascent. The series centers around Ascent Ventures, a corporate crisis and damage control firm. Davis will lead the series as Catriona, a ruthless corporate fixer who’ll need every skill in her arsenal to save her estranged daughter. Heughan‘s character is a departure from the valiant Jamie: he’ll play Conal, one of Ascent’s top agents. He’s a charismatic social shapeshifter who doesn’t let anything stand between himself and his targets; but will he and Catriona be friends or foes? The series is now in development at Paramount+; no release date has yet been announced.

Who Are the Creatives Behind ‘Ascent’?

John Logan is the creator, showrunner, and executive producer behind Ascent. Logan has penned films like Gladiator, The Last Samurai, and the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre; he recently wrote the script for this year’s billion-dollar biopic Michael. It will also be executive produced by Michael Aguilar (The Miniature Wife), and star Viola Davis and Julius Tennon for JuVee Productions.