‘The Bastard Executioner’ Season 1 Spoilers: 9 Things You Should Know Before The September 15 Series Premiere

Things are about to get bloody – real bloody. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, FX will air the anticipated new series “The Bastard Executioner,” created by the gore-loving showrunner Kurt Sutter. But before the epic, medieval drama makes its debut, check out everything you should know about the historical series.

1. Air Date

“TBX” will air its two-hour series premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 10 p.m. EDT. The pilot will be a combination of episodes 1 and 2, which was directed by Paris Barclay and written by Sutter.

2. Premiere Synopsis

The premiere will kick off with Wilkin Brattle (Lee Jones), a knight of King Edward I’s army, trading in his blood-soaked weapon for a “peaceful farming life.” But his passive world will be turned upside down when “the violence of his past finds him and forces him to pick up the bloodiest sword of all” – the executioner’s sword.

3. Lee Jones’ First Lead Role

Jones might be a veteran when it comes to theatre but this will be the Australian thespian’s first major lead role on the small screen.

“I think one of the best things about getting to do this job is getting to do television,” the actor said during a press conference call. “You know, I've been craving to do more film and TV, and it's been a great lesson working from instinct and working really fast. It's allowing me to flex a different muscle, and that's been really enjoyable.”

4. Star-Studded Cast

Jones isn’t the only red carpet star appearing in the drama, taking place in the 14th century. The cast also includes “Sons of Anarchy” actress Katey Sagal, “True Blood” hunk Stephen Moyer, “The Hurt Locker” actor Sam Spruell, Sutter as the Dark Mute and singing sensation Ed Sheeran.

5. Ed Sheeran’s Devious Role

The “Thinking Out Loud” crooner had one request for Sutter regarding his “The Bastard Executioner” character:

“ I find that I have reputation of being a smiley approachable guy, so I wanted the opposite. I said to Kurt, make sure that I’m not typecast at all. Write me as a complete d—head in it. I feel like I need that,” he told Entertainment Weekly.

6. “The Bastard Executioner” v. “Game of Thrones”

The upcoming drama may have been dubbed a “Game of Thrones” “knock-off” by some, but Jones rebutted that the two gory dramas are nothing alike.

“I think they are very different, [“The Bastard Executioner”] is based in reality, it's not fantasy in an way,” he told reporters. “There is a very well thought out novelty behind the show, which Kurt [Sutter] is developing. But I think this is a much more grounded in actual history and it's very gritty, real world, than fantasy.”

7. You Don’t Need To Know About History To Appreciate The Storyline

Jones promised viewers that even if they aren’t up-to-date with their 14th century knowledge, they’ll still be attracted to the historic storyline of the show.

“I think what's going to draw people in - what we can all relate to - the time wanting to escape, the darkness. People struggling to survive, and having to improve things for yourself,” he spoke of the show’s appeal during a press conference. “But for me, life is so delicate; you know a lot of drama comes from that. What was the value of life back then, and you know the brutality of it I think. As actors to play in a world that we're not in is very satisfying.”

8. Jones Reveals What Excites Him Most About “The Bastard Executioner”

The actor divulged to International Business Times what exactly he’s itching for fans to see when “The Bastard Executioner” makes its debut.

“I actually think it’s the relationship between the characters. They’re beautifully drawn by Kurt [Sutter], and there’s great depth towards that, as well as the epic scale that the show has. I think he has, and hopefully we have done, a great job of creating the heart of the show,” he told IBT.

9. Gut-Wrenching Trailer

"The Bastard Executioner" will air its series premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 15, on FX at 10 p.m. EDT.