Get ready for swashbuckling action with Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi in 2023. 

The BBC is granting safe harbour to a piratical comedy in the New Year: Our Flag Means Death.

From creator David Jenkins, Our Flag Means Death is loosely based on the true adventures of 18th-century would-be pirate, Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby). It follows his adventures as he and his crew 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, history’s greatest pirate.

As well as executive producing, Taika Waititi also stars as Blackbeard and the show has been lauded for its substantial LGBTQ+ representation.

The wider cast includes an embarrassment of talent; Joel Fry, Samson Kayo, Nathan Foad, Guz Khan, Con O’Neill, Ewen Bremner and Rory Kinnear all appear. Additionally, there are guest star appearances from Fred Armisen (Wednesday), Leslie Jones and Will Arnett too.

The HBO show, which has already scored a second season, docks at BBC iPlayer early in 2023. It will also air on BBC Two.

Additionally, the corporation has also picked up the rights to all five seasons of the dark comedy series Search Party – that’s bound for BBC Three.

We’ll keep you posted when we hear of a launch date for Our Flag Means Death.