BBC America has debuted a full trailer for "The Last Kingdom," the upcoming historical drama (heavier on the latter than the former) from the producers of "Downton Abbey."

Based on Bernard Cornwell's "Saxon Stories" bestselling book series, the eight-episode drama combines historical fact and fiction to tell the story of Alfred the Great’s efforts in the late ninth century to unite the separate kingdoms into what would become England.

Alexander Dreymon ("American Horror Story") leads a cast that includes Rutger Hauer, David Dawson, Matthew Macfadyen, Jason Flemyng, Alec Newman and Emily Cox.

"The Last Kingdom" premieres Saturday, Oct. 10, on BBC America.

Eleven-year-old Uhtred was born a Saxon in 9th century Northumbria. He watches from a cliff top as invading Danish ships move toward his home, not knowing that his future will soon be turned upside-down. Young Uhtred witnesses his father killed and the Saxon army defeated. That same day he is taken by the Danish warlord, Earl Ragnar. His fellow captive is a feisty, sharp-tongued girl named Brida. The orphans are brought up in the Danish camp.

Fast forward and the two have formed a close personal bond as kindred spirits and lovers. Uhtred is now a valiant young man and warrior. But it isn't long before he's forced to endure yet another painful and disorienting twist of fate when a group of Danes deliberately set his home ablaze in a vengeful, personal attack - murdering his surrogate family (including Ragnar, who Uhtred saw as his true father). A bloody feud between rival Danes ensues. Caught in the middle, Uhtred finds himself exiled - neither Saxon nor Dane - alone in the world with only his fellow outcast, Brida (Emily Cox). Meanwhile, his inheritance and lands in Northumbria are taken by his scheming uncle, Aelfric. Enraged, Uhtred swears to avenge Ragnar and to reclaim his homeland. But his loyalties are ever tested as circumstances force him to choose between the country of his birth and the people of his upbringing. Uhtred must tread a dangerous path between both sides if he is to play his part in the birth of a new nation and, ultimately, recapture his ancestral lands.

Alexander Dreymon (American Horror Story) heads up the international cast from eleven different countries. Emily Cox (The Silent Mountain) stars as Brida, David Dawson (Peaky Blinders) as King Alfred, Rune Temte (Eddie the Eagle) as Ubba, Matthew Macfadyen (Ripper Street) as Lord Uhtred, Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner) as Ravn, Ian Hart (Boardwalk Empire) as Beocca, Tobias Santelmann (Point Break) as Ragnar the Younger, Peter Gantzler (Italian For Beginners) as Earl Ragnar, Adrian Bower (Mount Pleasant) as Leofric, Joseph Millson (Penny Dreadful) as Aelfric and Henning Valin Jakobsen (The Bridge) as Storri.