HBO Max Orders Pirate Comedy ‘Our Flag Means Death’ from David Jenkins With Director/EP Taika Waititi
HBO Max has ordered ‘Our Flag Means Death‘, a pirate period comedy from ‘People of Earth’ creator David Jenkins and Oscar-winning director/exec producer Taika Waititi it has been announced.
The series is loosely based on the true adventures of Stede Bonnet, a pampered aristocrat who abandoned his life of privilege to become a pirate. Sometimes referred to as “The Gentleman Pirate”, the real-life Bonnet was a moderately wealthy landowner before turning to a life of crime. Born to a wealthy English family on the island of Barbados, he inherited the family estate after his father’s death. However, following some marital problems, and despite having zero experience in sailing, Bonnet bought a ship, naming it “Revenge”, hired a crew, and took to the high seas to raid the Eastern Seaboard. He was somewhat inept as a pirate captain, but did have some interesting encounters, including meeting and working with Edward Teach, aka the infamous pirate Blackbeard!
The series is created and written by David Jenkins, who is probably best known for the sci-fi show ‘People of Earth’, which aired on TBS for two seasons. Jenkins serves as showrunner and exec producer.
Taika Waititi is set to direct the pilot and also exec produce. Waititi won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for the brilliant ‘Jojo Rabbit’ earlier this year, and continues to direct/produce the critically acclaimed horror-comedy ‘What We Do in the Shadows’. He is currently filming underdog football film ‘Next Goal Wins’ about the American Samoa soccer team, and is due to return to the MCU to direct ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ next year. Emmy-nominated producer Garrett Basch (‘The Night Of’, ‘What We Do in the Shadows’) and Dan Halsted (‘People of Earth’, ‘Garden State’) also exec produce.
“A series concept like this jumps off the page and you can instantly envision every moment,” commented Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO MAX. “David and Taika’s unique take on Bonnet’s rollicking misadventures on the high seas, are sure to thrill and delight audiences everywhere.”
Plans are to shoot the first episode of ‘Our Flag Means Death‘ after Waititi finishes production on ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’, which is currently due to begin filming in early 2021.
