BBC Picks Up ‘Our Flag Means Death’ & ‘Search Party’ For iPlayer, Coming Early 2023
The BBC has announced two very exciting acquisitions from Warner Bros. Discovery International, as they reveal they have picked up the UK rights to critically acclaimed US comedy series, ‘Search Party‘ (Seasons 1-5) and ‘Our Flag Means Death‘ (Season 1), to premiere on iPlayer in early 2023.
From creator David Jenkins and executive producer Taika Waititi, ‘Our Flag Means Death’ is a unique comedy loosely based on the true adventures of 18th-century would-be pirate, Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby). Audiences will join Stede and his crew as they attempt to get their ship together and survive life on the high seas. After trading in the seemingly charmed life of a gentleman for one of a swashbuckling buccaneer, Stede becomes captain of the pirate ship Revenge. Struggling to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew, Stede’s fortunes change after a fateful run-in with the infamous Captain Blackbeard (Taika Waititi), history’s greatest pirate.
In addition to Darby and Waititi, the ensemble cast stars Nathan Foad, Samson Kayo, Vico Ortiz, Ewen Bremner, Joel Fry, Matt Maher, Kristian Nairn, Con O’Neill, Guz Khan, David Fane, Rory Kinnear, Samba Schutte, Nat Faxon, Fred Armisen and Leslie Jones.
The HBO Max Original comedy is executive produced by Academy Award winner Waititi, alongside showrunner David Jenkins, Emmy-nominated producer Garrett Basch, and Dan Halsted. The comedy has been renewed for Season 2 by HBO in the USA.
Dark comedy series ‘Search Party’, a trenchant satire of millennial culture, full of escalating events and consequences. The disappearance of former college acquaintance Chantal leads several twenty-somethings to get entangled in the mystery of her going missing. Heading the search party is Dory, a lifelong doormat who works as a rich housewife’s assistant. Dory makes it her personal mission to find Chantal and involves her friends in the investigation. Narcissist Elliott can sometimes put his ego aside to help Dory, brazenness being useful in detective work. Bubbly actress Portia excels at chatting up suspects for information because of her desperate need to be in the spotlight. Sheltered Drew has to grow a spine to help solve the mystery and save his deteriorating relationship with Dory. Dory’s ex-boyfriend Julian seeks the truth because of his background as a journalist. However, finding Chantal is just the start…
Search Party stars Alia Shawkat, John Reynolds, John Early and Meredith Hagner. Joining the show’s stellar guest stars are Susan Sarandon, Busy Philipps, Ann Dowd, Griffin Dunne and Lillias White, as well as R.L. Stine in a cameo role. Recurring guest stars Kathy Griffin, John Waters, Aparna Nancherla, Angela Trimbur, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Greta Titelman, Joe Castle Baker, Larry Owens and Michelle Badillo. Returning recurring guest stars include Jeffery Self and Clare McNulty.
‘Search Party’ is executive produced by Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, Michael Showalter and Lilly Burns and Tony Hernandez for Jax Media. The series has now ended in the USA, but all five seasons have been acquired by the BBC as part of this deal. Seasons one and two previously aired on All 4 in the UK.
“Search Party is a deliciously dark and quirky comedy thriller; Our Flag Means Death is a wonderfully rich and warm-hearted period comedy,” Commented Sue Deeks, Head of Programme Acquisition. “We are truly delighted that these two critically acclaimed series will be joining our Channels and iPlayer line-up.”
Both ‘Search Party‘ Seasons 1-5 and ‘Our Flag Means Death‘ Season 1 do not yet have a UK premiere date, but will air in early 2023 on BBC iPlayer, and also on BBC Channels later. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add it via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
