Rhys Darby is trading in his werewolf alpha status for a pirate ship! According to Deadline, the actor has been tapped to lead the impending HBO Max period comedy Our Flag Means Death. The series is the brainchild of Academy Award winner Taika Waititi and David Jenkins.
Now, Our Flag Means Death is “based loosely on the true adventures of Stede Bonnet (Darby), a well-to-do gentleman farmer and child of wealth who suffers a midlife crisis and becomes captain of Revenge, a pirate ship in the early 18th century.”
Waititi will serve as executive producer and will direct the pilot. Additionally, Jenkins will executive produce alongside Garrett Basch and Dan Halsted.
RELATED: HBO Max Orders Taika Waititi and David Jenkins Comedy Our Flag Means Death
Darby and Waititi are no strangers to collaboration. In fact, the pair starred together in the 2014 flick What We Do in the Shadows. Darby played a werewolf alpha leader that was averse to expletives. Additionally, Darby starred in HBO’s Flight of the Conchords with Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie. Waititi wrote and directed a handful of episodes for the series. Darby will star in another Waititi project entitled Next Goal Wins, which the latter wrote and directed.
While Rhys Darby is quite popular in his native New Zealand, most of the world knows him as Nigel Billingsley in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and the upcoming Jumanji: The Next Level. Folks may also remember him as Charles from Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Personally, I’m elated to see Darby and Waititi reunite again, especially for a comedic period piece about pirates. Darby is an incredibly underrated performer. His talents need a bigger soundstage. These two create absolute magic together.
Are you excited about Rhys Darby starring in Our Flag Means Death? Sound off in the comments below!
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
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