Released back in March 2022, Our Flag Means Death has become a widespread success. Marketed as a ‘pirate comedy’, audiences were initially uncertain of what to expect. However, word-of-mouth marketing contributed to the show’s overwhelmingly positive reception. Amongst its witty humor, Our Flag Means Death tackled hard-hitting themes, including the presentation of masculinity and LGBTQ+ representation. Recently, over 256 artists collaborated on a heart-warming project to illustrate Stede and Ed’s kiss – evidencing the show’s immense fan support.
Our Flag Means Death has also been widely praised for its depiction of non-binary representation. The show’s tackling of discrimination and focus on LGBTQ+ relationships has enabled Our Flag Means Death to become a groundbreaking piece of television – leaving fans wanting more.
Originally, the future for Our Flag Means Death was highly uncertain. Fans were left in the dark for months after there were no updates in relation to the show’s renewal. Sadly, fans feared the worst after major streaming services began to cancel an alarming quantity of TV shows which featured LGBTQ+ representation. Following this, fans created the hashtag #RenewOurFlagMeansDeath on Twitter and even wrote letters to Max in an attempt to guarantee a future for the beloved show. Fortunately, fans’ fears were finally rectified in June 2022 when it was officially announced that Our Flag Means Death had been renewed for a second season.
David Jenkins, the creator of Our Flag Means Death, directly credited fans’ support as the reason for the show’s renewal. In an interview with Gizmodo, he stated: “I think that the fandom response is the reason that we have the next season of the show”. Filming for the second season officially wrapped back in December 2022, meaning that the show’s second installment is expected to premiere later this year. With not long to wait, here’s what to know before season 2’s anticipated release.
Who has been cast in season 2?
Fortunately, the majority of the show’s star-studded cast will be returning for the second season. This includes the show’s two beloved leads: Taika Waititi as the fearsome Blackbeard and Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet – the infamous Gentleman Pirate. Other fan-favorites are set to return, including Joel Fry as Frenchie, Con O'Neill as Izzy, Samson Kayo as Oluwande, and Vico Ortiz as Jim.
Season 1 of the show featured an excellent variety of guest stars. For example, Will Arnett (who will next voice Sweet Tooth in Peacock's Twisted Metal) starred in the show’s eighth episode as the troublesome Calico Jack. Fans are hoping that season 2 will continue this trend and are expecting plenty of celebrity cameos across the second season.
Sadly, it has been announced that Guz Khan won’t be returning for season 2. Khan was known for portraying one of Blackbeard’s crew-mates, Ivan. In a Twitter post, Khan addressed the confusion concerning the character’s dismissal from the show. He wrote: "This is the industry sometimes. They might be choosing a different direction creatively, maybe it's a financial decision, maybe they weren’t feeling your boy. But it’s all part of the journey, and that’s where the fun is for me!". Fans have speculated that Khan’s dismissal from the show will place focus on Blackbeard and his ‘new’ crew.
In an interesting twist, it’s likely that Nathan Foad will reprise his role as Lucius. In June 2022, Foad seemingly confirmed his character’s return via an Instagram post. The actor posted the official renewal announcement, before captioning the image with: “SEASON TWO, BABE”. However, as part of season 1’s dramatic finale, Lucius was last seen being forcefully pushed off the ship by Blackbeard. It was implied that Lucius had been left for dead in the middle of the ocean, but fans are hoping that Foad’s return will guarantee a future for the beloved character.
Did Lucius actually die?
Undoubtedly, Lucius is one of the most popular characters from Our Flag Means Death, which is why fans are doubting the permanence of his ‘death’. Although Blackbeard declared Lucius as dead, fans never saw the character’s body after being pushed from the ship. This means that it’s likely that Lucius somehow managed to sneak back onboard – a theory which is exemplified by Nathan Foad’s addition to the cast. Other fans seem to think that Lucius will be rescued at sea – potentially by Stede himself. Whatever the case, it’s unlikely that the show would kill off one of its most beloved characters.
Back in July 2022, David Jenkins Tweeted a photo of the script cover for season 2’s first episode. Jenkins censored the name of the episode’s title but captioned the image with #justiceforluciusrip. Jenkins’ direct reference to Lucius signifies that the character will likely be returning and could reappear in a significant role.
In the same Tweet, Jenkins wrote: “Anyone care to have their s*** f***ed up? Because this is happening”. This means that it’s likely that season 2 will contain some serious plot twists, leading fans to speculate that Lucius could return in the second season as a villain. It’s completely plausible that Lucius would desire revenge after being betrayed by Blackbeard, however it’s uncertain whether the character will achieve this retribution. Regardless, fans are hoping that season 1 was not the end of Lucius’ story.
What is known about season 2’s plot?
Whilst exact details are not yet known about season 2’s plot, it appears that heartbreak is definitely in the cards for the show’s return. In David Jenkins’ Tweet of season 2’s script, he featured a heartbroken emoji in the image’s caption – hinting at the emotional turmoil that’s yet to come.
As set-up in season 1’s finale, season 2 will heavily focus on Stede and Blackbeard’s relationship. In an interview with Decider, Jenkins stated that season 2 will center around Stede and Blackbeard’s romance because "the show is the relationship". Although season 1 featured the iconic kiss between Blackbeard and Stede, Blackbeard was ultimately left heartbroken, causing the character to snap back to his old destructive ways. Whilst Blackbeard is evidently experiencing a bad turn, Stede is unbeknown to this and is determined to track down the pirate – something which is unlikely to end well for everyone involved. Max’s synopsis for season 2 expands upon this:
“Struggling to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew, Stede's fortunes changed after a fateful run-in with the infamous Captain Blackbeard... To their surprise, the wildly different Stede and Blackbeard found more than friendship on the high seas... they found love. Now they have to survive it”.
It’s likely that fans are in for an emotional journey – something which Our Flag Means Death does best.
When is the second season premiering?
Although an official release date is yet to be confirmed, season 2’s production was completed earlier than expected. Filming for the second season was originally scheduled to start in October 2022, but filming had already begun by September. Taika Waititi revealed that the filming for season 2 had taken place in New Zealand – unlike season 1, which was filmed in LA. The cast and crew confirmed via Instagram that the filming had wrapped by December 2022. In David Jenkins' post, he captioned the image with: "Annnnnd that’s a wrap on S2. See you whenever HBO Max airs this thingy" - indicating that season 2's release is clearly out of the creator's hands.
Unfortunately for UK fans, it’s likely that the show will have a later release date. Whilst season 1 premiered on Max in March 2022, the show was not released in the UK until January 2023. The show’s quick production means that it’s possible for the second installment to be released later this year. Whilst fans are yet to receive a trailer, it’s likely that the wait won’t be too long.
Our Flag Means Death season 1 is available to watch on Max.