The Mind Behind Thor: Love and Thunder Is Now Playing A Pirate
This article is more than 2 years old
After bringing to life the character of Adolf Hitler in a unique way in 2019’s hit Jojo Rabbit and joining the cast of The Suicide Squad (where he is rumored to play either the original Ratcatcher or the supervillain Starro), Taika Waititi is going to get into some new work. While also directing Thor: Love and Thunder, Waititi is all set to play the real-life character of the feared pirate Blackbeard in HBO Max’s original series, Our Flag Means Death.
As per Hollywood Reporter’s recent report, the Thor: Love and Thunder director-actor will play the pirate Blackbeard in Our Flag Means Death, which is loosely based on the true adventures of Stede Bonnet. Bonnet was an aristocrat who grew up spoiled and pampered but one day, he abandoned it all to become a pirate.
Showrunner David Jenkins shared that the character of the Thor: Love and Thunder maker is no cliched pirate. Blackbeard will be portrayed as a legend, a passionate lover, a daring fighter, “a tactical genius” who is blessed with a poetic soul, and oh yes, there are high chances that he is insane. According to Jenkins, no one other than Waititi could play such a dynamic, complex role and Our Flag Means Death‘s helmer is really thrilled that the director decided to accept the role. If old pictures of Blackbeard are anything to go by, we are in for a very bearded and formidable-looking Waititi. And judging by his unique characters in films to date, he will fit right in!
The project, described as a comedy series, is divided into six episodes of half-hour each that will come out weekly. Apart from acting in the series, Waititi will also be directing the pilot episode and will be executive producing Our Flag Means Death, along with Jenkins, Garrett Basch, and Dan Halsted also executive produce. Currently, the director is busy wrapping up Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder that is currently scheduled for release in 2022.
Parts of Thor: Love and Thunder have already been shot in Sydney, Australia. It was initially supposed to begin filming in August 2020 but got postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming resumed in early February and actors from the Guardians of the Galaxy films- Karen Gillan as Nebula, Dave Bautista as Drax, Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, and Pom Klementieff as Mantis- completing filming their scenes in a few days. Actress Jaimie Alexander has also recently wrapped up filming her scenes as Lady Sif.
While it hasn’t been officially announced, set photos from Thor: Love and Thunder revealed that actors Matt Damon, Sam Neill, and Luke Hemsworth will be returning as Asgardian actors from Thor: Ragnarok, playing hilariously dramatized versions of Loki, Odin, and Thor. It was revealed in March 2021 that Melissa McCarthy has also joined the cameo cast of the film as an Asgardian actress who will be playing Hela. Her husband, Ben Falcone, has also joined the film in an undisclosed role. The rumors that Russell Crowe will be portraying Zeus in a “fun cameo” in the film were recently confirmed by the actor as he shared that he too has finished filming his scenes in Thor: Love and Thunder. It’s scheduled to be released in the United States on May 6, 2022, as part of Phase Four of the MCU.
