HBO Max has just dropped an exciting new trailer for Taika Waititi’s pirate comedy series, Our Flag Means Death:

As one of modern Hollywood’s most successful directors – whether we’re talking cash registers or critical acclaim – this longtime passion project seems to hold a lot of promise for Waititi. HBO Max’s official description reads:

“Our Flag Means Death is loosely based on the true adventures of Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby), a pampered aristocrat who abandons his life of privilege to become a pirate.”

Darby, who most recently appeared in animated sitcom The Great North, also happens to be a New Zealander like Waititi. “They are like an old married couple in certain ways,” said showrunner David Jenkins to Entertainment Weekly.

“If a scene isn’t quite working, Taika will be able to grumble about Rhys, and vice versa, in the way that only friends can. And then when it is popping, they know how to get the best out of each other. There’s a generosity and a real sweetness between them that you wouldn’t get if you weren’t using those two friends.”

This chemistry wasn’t built overnight. Darby and Waititi have collaborated as actor and director in several projects across two decades – from musical comedy series Flight of the Conchords to the hilarious mockumentary, What We Do in the Shadows.

What’s The Story?

Darby’s character Bonnet takes up centre stage, as a comedic interpretation of Major Stede Bonnet (1688-1718). Born to a family of wealthy English landowners in Barbados, Bonnet left behind his family on a whim – purchasing a 10-gun ship and outfitting it with 70 skilled sailors, after which he set off in search of riches and adventure.

Bonnet named his ship ‘The Revenge’. What exactly he was seeking revenge for remains an unanswered question, however. Needless to say, as a pampered aristocrat, Bonnet had little experience. While enthusiastic and friendly, his terrible captaincy skills killed half the crew during a battle with a Spanish warship.

Bonnet was saved, however, by a chance encounter with none other than Edward ‘Blackbeard’ Teach (played by Waititi in the series), who was just then setting out as a pirate captain in his own right after having served for some time under the legendary pirate Benjamin Hornigold.

“I hadn’t really acted alongside him at all,” Darby says of Waititi. “So when he came aboard as [Blackbeard], all hell broke loose because no one’s telling him what to do. Now [we’re costars] and he’s not capable of telling me what to do!”

Taika Waititi playing Blackbeard is pretty much a dream come true for old Pirates of the Caribbean fans – many of us can’t wait to return to the seas in search of fortune and infamy:

Our Flag Means Death also stars Leslie Jones and Kristian Nairn (a.k.a. Hodor from Game of Thrones). The show is set to premiere on HBO Max in March.

(Image Sources: HBO Max)