Waititi will play the notorious privateer Edward Teach, more famously known as Blackbeard, in his HBO Max pirate comedy series Our Flag Means Death. He was already set to produce the show since September of 2020, so it almost seemed inevitable that he would eventually show up in front of the camera in some form. Few probably expected to see him play such a villainous figure out of history, but then again, Hitler.
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“Our Blackbeard is a legend, a lover, a fighter, a tactical genius, a poetic soul, and quite possibly insane. Only one man could play this role, and that is the great Taika Waititi,” said the series’ showrunner David Jenkins. “We’re thrilled beyond measure he’s decided to don the beard.” Our Flag Means Death is set to be a limited half-hour comedy, lasting only 6 episodes, so it looks like Jenkins and Waititi fully intend to pack as much delightful insanity as they can into the short run.
The series will loosely follow the story of historical figure Stede Bonnet, whom many may remember from his appearance in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, still considered by fans to be one of the best pirate games ever made. Bonnet was a decently wealthy landowner who decided to try his hand at piracy due to marital troubles and perhaps a bit of boredom (thus legitimizing the careers of a thousand uninspired comedians). Known by some as the “Gentleman Pirate,” he led a rather colorful life of crime, even traveling with Blackbeard for a time aboard the famous pirate’s ship Queen Anne’s Revenge. While Bonnet’s career on the high seas didn’t exactly end all that well, his story is still interesting enough that a short comedy series about him is certainly an intriguing prospect.
Bonnet himself will be played by Rhys Darby, a long-time collaborator of Waititi’s who has appeared in such films as What We Do In The Shadows and Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle. Their history together, going back at least as far as the comedy series Flight of the Conchords, features pretty consistent quality when it comes to the writing and humor. So the prospect of these two joining forces once again, especially as two famous pirates, sounds too good to pass up.
The premiere for Our Flag Means Death still has yet to be set, so eager fans will have to wait a bit. Besides, Waititi is currently busy filming Thor: Love and Thunder, so the wait could be even longer than expected. But when it finally drops on HBO Max, plenty of exciting adventure and sassy snark on the high seas will surely follow.
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Source: The Hollywood Reporter
