Time-travelling Starz series 'Outlander' stars Sam Heughan as Jamie and Catriona Balfe as Claire. (Photo : YouTube/Times of World)
"Outlander" Season 3 will be more controversial with the addition of a Chinese character Yi Tien Cho, also known as Mr Willoughby. Gary Young, who is known for his film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny," was reportedly seen filming in the streets of Edinburgh playing the role.
Diana Gabaldon, the creator of the time-travelling novels on which "Outlander" is based, confirmed the appearance of Yi Tien Cho in "Outlander" Season 3. She hinted that the Chinese character will be introduced in the third series and may spark controversy about racist stereotyping.
"No one knew how he got there," Gabaldon told Herald Scotland about Mr. Willoughby. "Whether he had stowed away, been kidnapped or whatever. He couldn't speak English and he never would speak English as he was so traumatized by being in the midst of these barbarian strangers."
In the third series of the book, the "Voyager," which "Outlander" Season 3 is based described Yi Tien Cho as a Chinese scholar and immigrant, who arrived in Edinburgh around the mid-18th century. Feeling isolated in a new country, he was in a bad shape- starving and culturally isolated. He turned into an alcoholic until Jamie (Sam Heughan) saved him and gave him the nickname Mr. Willoughby.
Young has several credits under his name, including the films "The Most Fun You Can Have Dying," "Hopes and Dreams," "Nights in the Gardens of Spain" and "Apron Strings and A Soldier's Sweetheart." He also had a number of television appearances, including "Outrageous Fortune," "Nothing Trivial," "Shortland St," "This is Not My Life" and "The Cult and The Strip."
Some fans reacted violently on the casting of Young as Yi Tien Cho in Mr Willoughby in "Outlander" Season 3. Some "Oulander" fans are hoping that the Chinese character would not appear in the third series because it presents discrimination and stereotyping, according to Daily Record.
Set to premiere in 2017, "Outlander" Season 3 picks up at the Battle of Culloden, where the Duke of Cumberland's Hanoverian government army won over against the Jacobite forces. It will see Claire (Catriona Balfe) reuniting with her husband Frank (Tobias Menzies) to escape the battle.
Starz has yet to confirm the latest casting news about Mr. Willoughby. Check out the latest about "Outlander" Season 3 on the video below:
