Taika Waititi will play dreaded pirate Blackbeard in HBO Max's Our Flag Means Death

Variety

Waititi joins fellow New Zealander Rhys Darby on the HBO Max series after collaborating on Flight of the Conchords. When Our Flag Means Death was ordered to series last September, it was announced that Waititi would executive produce and direct the pilot. “Our Blackbeard is a legend, a lover, a fighter, a tactical genius, a poetic soul, and quite possibly insane,” said series creator David Jenkins. “Only one man could play this role, and that is the great Taika Waititi. We’re thrilled beyond measure he’s decided to don the beard.”