Everything We Know About Kurt Sutter's 'Bastard Executioner' Pilot From Social Media

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In the age of spoilers, you wouldn’t expect a creator to be documenting filming of a pilot on Twitter and Instagram, but then most social-savvy showrunners aren’t Kurt Sutter. After cultivating a passionate fan base for Sons of Anarchy, which took its final ride last December, Sutter is giving those eager to see what he’s doing next a sneak peak while he’s in Wales shooting his follow-up, The Bastard Executioner.

From the FX press release, we know the plot centers on a warrior knight (Lee Jones) in King Edward I’s charge who is broken by the ravages of war and vows to lay down his sword. When that violence finds him again, he is forced to pick up the bloodiest sword of all. The social media accounts of Sutter, director/executive producer Paris Barclay, and the cast, however, reveal more.

1. For starters, there will be beards.

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Here is Sutter with, from left, Stephen Moyer, Jones, and Brian F. O’Byrne. Jones, an Aussie stage actor, plays the titular role, Wilkin Brattle, who is described as emotionally deep and spiritually tortured. O’Byrne is Baron Ventris, whose cunning wife (Flora Spencer-Longhurst) married him at 17 to protect her family’s land and finds her noble duties in conflict with her Welsh pride. Moyer, who professed his appreciation for SoA via Twitter multiple times, plays the street smart and noble-savvy Milus Corbett, who was once one of Ventris’s marshals in the army and is now his Chamberlain, Chancellor, and Justiciar (plus, drinking buddy).

Also noteworthy, a Twitter account has already been set up to admire the beard of their castmate Kyle Rees. Here’s a good look.

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2. Sutter — whose SoA character, Otto, bit off his own tongue — will play “the Dark Mute.” He’s the mate and guardian of Annora of the Alders (Katey Sagal), a prescient, beautiful mystic who offers predictions, cures, and potions. No one has ever seen his face, which could explain this photo of Sutter.

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Here’s a look at the rest of the cast, including SoA's Timothy V. Murphy, who'll play Father Ruskin, a former soldier who left the military for the seminary and has “bottled fury,” and The Americans's Matthew Rhys, who guests as Gruffudd y Blaidd (aka The Wolf), the leader of the Welsh rebels, Byth Encil.

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3. The trees almost seem like another character.

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Especially at night.

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4. The night scenes are particularly haunting.

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5. And let’s not forget the solar eclipse.

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6. The locations, however, are most stunning in the daylight…

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7. Still, they had to build.

8. Even medieval sets get cell reception, as executive producer Brian Grazer proved.

9.  SoA fans will still be able to use “ride” puns, thanks to the many horses.

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Director of photography Henry Braham (Waking Ned Devine, the upcoming Tarzan) is even using a “Red Dragon Equestricam.”

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10. Other animals will abound — as costumes, set dressing, and PETA bait.

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Read this one closely.

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11. And don’t leave out religion.

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12. The show’s logo will look great on merch.

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There could even be a journal/stationery section in the show’s FX shop.

13. The shoot is scheduled for 22 days. Let’s hope Sutter makes it.

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To keep up with the filming of the Bastard Executioner pilot follow:

Kurt Sutter on Twitter and Instagram

Paris Barclay on Twitter

Lee Jones on Twitter

Stephen Moyer on Twitter and Instagram

Kyle Rees on Twitter and Instagram