Steel yourself for a gripping and brutal journey through the Late Middle Ages as FX has ordered a 10-episode first season of Kurt Sutter's new series The Bastard Executioner, it was announced today by John Landgraf, CEO, FX Networks and FX Productions. Kurt Sutter and an impressive cast recently completed production of the pilot in Wales, where production will resume this summer before airing 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. Here's what FX CEO John Landgraf had to say about the series in a statement.

"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. The Bastard Executioner has lined up an extraordinary creative team, with Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo and Paris Barclay 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."

Fox Television Group Chairmen and CEOs Gary Newman and Dana Walden, whose Fox 21 TV Studios will produce the project with FX Productions, also offered the following statement.

"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. 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."

Series creator and executive producer Kurt Sutter also released his own statement.

"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 Fox21TVS. They've been my family for 15 years. They not only tolerate me, they embrace my extremely disturbing storytelling sensibilities."

The Bastard Executioner features series regulars Lee Jones, Stephen Moyer, Katey Sagal, Flora Spencer-Longhurst, Kurt Sutter, Sam Spruell, Darren Evans, Danny Sapani, Timothy V. Murphy, Sarah Whitee, Sarah Sweeney, Elen Rhys, Ethan Griffiths and guest star Matthew Rhys.

The Bastard Executioner was created by Kurt Sutter, who will serve as Executive Producer along with award-winning producers Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo and Paris Barclay. Sutter wrote the script for the pilot of The Bastard Executioner , which was directed by Barclay. The project is being produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions.

Sutter was the Creator/Showrunner of Sons of Anarchy, which concluded its seven-season run on FX in December with the most-watched season in its entire run in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49 (11.7 million average total viewers, and 7.5 million Adults 18-49). FX has also released the first photo from The Bastard Executioner, featuring series star Lee Jones, which you can check out below. Stay tuned for more on The Bastard Executioner, debuting this fall on FX.