Filmmaker and actor Taika Waititi has been roped in to star in a lead role in the upcoming HBO Max comedy series Our Flag Means Death.

Waititi joins previously announced series lead Rhys Darby. When the show was ordered in September 2020, it was announced that Waititi would executively produce and direct the pilot of the series.

Our Flag Means Death is loosely based on the true adventures of Stede Bonnet, a pampered aristocrat who abandoned his life of privilege to become a pirate. While Darby will play the role of Bonnet, Waititi will portray the dreaded pirate Blackbeard.

Waititi is known for his Academy Award win for best original screenplay for Jojo Rabbit, which he also directed and starred in as Adolf Hitler. He is also known for directing MCU's Thor: Ragnarok and is currently working on its sequel Thor: Love and Thunder. He previously directed the Season 1 finale of the Star Wars series The Mandalorian.

Our Flag Means Death hails from writer, showrunner, and executive producer David Jenkins. Garrett Basch and Dan Halsted will also serve as executive producers along with Waititi.