Taika Waititi is back on our screens as infamous pirate in the new TV show Our Flag Means Death, which is part swashbuckling pirate tale and part workplace comedy. However, filming the series didn't come without its challenges.
"It was very annoying to wear the beard and the wig," Waititi told Entertainment Weekly. "No one ever likes it. Also, you can't have a real conversation with someone because all the glue keeps your whole face tight, and as soon as you actually smile properly, it breaks all the glue and things start peeling off."
Set in the early 18th Century, Our Flag Means Death is (very) loosely based on the true adventures of Stede Bonnet (played by Waititi's Flight of the Conchords collaborator Rhys Darby), a moderately wealthy landowner who suffers a midlife crisis and becomes captain of Revenge, a pirate ship.
The show's ensemble cast also includes Game of Thrones' Kristian Nairn, Trainspotting's Ewen Bremner, James Bond's Rory Kinnear, and Cruella's Joel Fry, as well as recurring spots from comedians Fred Armisen and Leslie Jones.
Garrett Basch, whose previous projects include What We Do in the Shadows (the FX series based on Waititi's 2014 movie of the same name) and The Night Of starring Riz Ahmed, is also an executive producer. Meanwhile, David Jenkins is on board as showrunner – he previously helmed sci-fi comedy series People of Earth, about a support group for people who have been abducted by aliens.
Our Flag Means Death is now on HBO Max – stay tuned for a UK release date. In the meantime, check out our list of the best TV shows of 2021.
