Taika Waititi will be stepping in front of the camera for the upcoming HBO Max series, Our Flag Means Death.

According to Deadline, Academy Award winner Taika Waititi has officially signed on to star in Our Flag Means Death— a new series coming down the pipelein at HBO Max.

Described as a period comedy, Our Flag Means Death is loosely based on the true adventures of an aristocrat named Stede Bonnet who changes course and gives up his pampered, upper crust life to become a pirate instead.

Rhys Darby is already on board to take on the role of Stede Bonnet himself. As for Taika Waititi, the Oscar winning director will take on the role of the notorious pirate, Blackbeard.

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Waititi’s involvement with the forthcoming period comedy series doesn’t stop with his starring role. In addition to portraying Blackbeard, the Jojo Rabbit helmer will also serve as an executive producer on the series, for which he’ll also be directing the pilot episode.

Others involved behind the scenes include People of Earth vet David Jenkins, who created and wrote the series. Garrett Basch (who previously worked with Waititi on What We Do in the Shadows) and Dan Halstead will both work as executive producers on the show as well.

In a statement announcing Waititi’s casting, Jenkins said: “Our Blackbeard is a legend, a lover, a fighter, a tactical genius, a poetic soul and quite possibly insane. 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.”

Currently, there’s no word on when we might expect to see Our Flag Means Death debut via HBO Max.