The 24-year-old English music star has secured a role in a new US cable drama from Sons of Anarchy producer Kurt Sutter.

The series, The Bastard Executioner, is set in the early 14th century and follows a knight in King Edward I's army who becomes a journeyman executioner.

Filmed in Wales, in the United Kingdom, it stars Australian actor Lee Jones, True Blood's Stephen Moyer, Irish actor Brían F. O'Byrne, English actress Flora Spencer-Longhurst and Welsh actor Kyle Rees.

Sutter's wife, actress Katey Sagal, also has a role in the series. Sagal starred in Sutter's previous series, the critically acclaimed US biker drama Sons of Anarchy.

According to US media reports, Sheeran will play a character named Sir Cormac, who is described as an "ambitious and deadly protege of a high-ranking church elder".

Sutter and Sheeran first collaborated during Sons of Anarchy, with the singer-songwriter recording music for the series.

Sheeran had previously acknowledged he was a fan of the show.

Taking the role may mark a shift for Sheeran's career plans - it's the second acting role the music star has taken in the last year.

He has also filmed an episode of the US comedy Undateable, playing himself.

The series is currently filming in the new Pinewood Studios in Cardiff, Wales, and on location in the Welsh village of Llanharan.

The US cable network FX has commissioned a first season of 10 one-hour episodes for The Bastard Executioner.

FX broadcast both of Sutter's previous shows, Sons of Anarchy and the critically acclaimed police drama The Shield.