FX has ordered a 10-episode first season of Kurt Sutter's new drama series The Bastard Executioner, it was announced today by John Landgraf, CEO, FX Networks and FX Productions. Production of the pilot was recently completed in Wales, where production will resume this summer for a debut on FX this fall.
A period drama, The Bastard Executioner tells the story of a warrior knight in King Edward I's charge who is broken by the ravages of war and vows to lay down his sword. But when that violence finds him again he is forced to pick up the bloodiest sword of all.
"From his important contributions to The Shield to his epic run on Sons of Anarchy, Kurt has been one of FX's most visionary artists, and we are proud to get him back on the air so soon after the unquestionable success of Sons," said Landgraf. "The Bastard Executioner has lined up an extraordinary creative team, with Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo and Paris Baclary joining Kurt as executive producers and an amazing cast led by Katey Sagal, Stephen Moyer and Lee Jones in the signature role as the Executioner himself. We knew they could deliver something special and, under the expert direction of Paris, they did just that. The fans can't wait for the first season, and neither can we."
"Kurt Sutter and Brian Grazer have been spectacular creative partners - and dear friends - to our studio for years, and their collaboration has resulted in a fantastic and epic new series," commented Fox Television Group Chairmen and CEOs Gary Newman and Dana Walden, whose Fox 21 TV Studios will produce the project with FX Productions. "The Bastard Executioner, written by Kurt and directed by the talented Paris Barclay, is dangerous, brilliant, emotional and undeniable. This is the perfect follow-up to Sons and another huge event series for FX from Fox 21TVS and FXP. Viewers are in for a wild and spellbinding ride."
Added Sutter, "I love history. I love theology. I love blood. It's been very satisfying weaving fact and fiction to create a new mythology that combines all these elements. And with this extraordinary cast - Stephen Moyer, Katey Sagal and newcomer Lee Jones - this world explodes on screen. I love working with FX and Fox 21TVS. They've been my family for 15 years. They not only tolerate me, they embrace my extremely disturbing storytelling sensibilities."
The Bastard Executioner cast features Lee Jones, Stephen Moyer, Katey Sagal, Flora Spencer-Longhurst, Kurt Sutter, Sam Spruell, Darren Evans, Danny Sapani, Timothy V. Murphy, Sarah White, Sarah Sweeney, Elen Rhys, Ethan Griffiths and guest star Matthew Rhys.