Last year we wrote with some optimism about Howard McCain's forthcoming Viking Sci-Fi adventure Outlander (or is it a Sci-Fi Viking adventure?). Back then it still had a projected release of early 2008, a date which came and went without word. Well, according to the official Outlander site the movie has now been completed and will be released later this year, unless you happen to live in Latvia where it has already been released! For the rest of us, a couple of trailers are now available.

The premise of Outlander goes something like this: while the Vikings are busily doing the things that Vikings do, two races battle it out for dominance amongst the stars. Kainan (Jim Caviezel), a humanoid alien, crashes his space craft in ancient Norway. He emerges from the wreckage along with a Moorwen, the enemy – a fierce and bloodthirsty predator which sets off wreaking a path of destruction through the local Viking tribes. Kainan unites the feuding tribes in an alliance, fusing his technology with their weapons, as they set out to destroy the Moorwen before it destroys them.

Are we still optimistic? Quietly. With Jim Caviezel, John Hurt, Sophia Myles and Ron Perlman amongst others, the cast is strong, the premise is interesting and the movie certainly looks good. So, if any Latvians have seen it, why don't you let us know what you thought?