‘Our Flag Means Death’ Stars Rhys Darby & Taika Waititi Talk Reuniting For “Outlandish” HBO Max Comedy, Prospects Of ‘What We Do In The Shadows’ S4 Cameos

deadline.com:

Former Flight of the Conchords and What We Do In The Shadows collaborators Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi set sail for the high seas and charter a return to the mockumentary in HBO Max’s Our Flag Means Death.For the upcoming series, created by showrunner David Jenkins, the fellow New Zealanders suit up as two notable figures in the pirating world – Darby as aristocrat-turned-pirate Stede Bonnet and Waititi as the elusive and notorious Blackbeard.

The stars spoke to Deadline about coming aboard the pirate comedy and striking gold with the latest addition to their lengthy history of collaboration.“I feel really lucky when something like this comes along,” mused Waititi, who serves as executive producer and directed the pilot. “This is the most fun I’ve had acting for a long time.”Our Flag Means Death may debut more than a decade after The Pirates of The Caribbean franchise dominated mainstream portrayals of the swashbuckling lifestyle, but offers a different approach to life on the high seas.

A mockumentary-style comedy that centers on Stede Bonnet’s adjustment to pirate life and his efforts to keep a tight and happy crew, Our Flag Means Death presents a unique lens to pirating that received nearly instantaneous approval from Waititi.When it came to casting the perfect Stede Bonnet, the Jojo Rabbit director said Darby’s name came up multiple times in conversations about who could helm the ship.

Darby, known for playing desperate music manager Murray in Flight Of The Conchords’  and werewolf pack leader Anton in the original What We Do In The Shadows film, seemed like a good fit.“Rhys is so good in that managerial position,” Waititi added. “You’re so good at delegating people and at running a group of people.