Your grandfather’s George Washington, he isn’t.

Ian Kahn (aka Danny from Dawson’s Creek) is joining AMC’s Revolutionary War-era spy thriller Turn as a pre-POTUS George Washington, TVLine has learned exclusively.

From Nikita creator/executive producer Craig Silverstein and Barry Josephson, Turn is based on Alexander Rose’s book Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring and centers on hard-working New York cabbage farmer Abraham Woodhull (Billy Elliot‘s Jamie Bell), who forms a group of spies with his pals in the summer of 1778. The gang winds up helping America greatly in its fight for independence.

A General in the Continental Army at the time Turn takes place, Kahn’s Washington is a smart, self-conscious, self-aware leader who is always striving for self-improvement and perfection. He is insecure about how people perceive him and has an intense fear of failure. He takes every opportunity, especially when entering towns, to ride atop a horse wearing his hat to give the picture of a confident General.

Kahn, whose recent TV credits include Bones and Parenthood, will recur throughout Season 1 and has an option to be a series regular in Season 2.

Turn is set to premiere Sunday, April 6 at 9 pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek.