‘Our Flag Means Death’ Creator on His Plans If HBO Max Doesn’t Renew for Season 2

Our Flag Means Death - Season 1 - Rhys Darby
HBO Max

Our Flag Means Death Season 2 when?! That’s the question a lot of people want to know the answer to. After being the most in-demand show across all streaming services for the fifth week in a row, fans of the Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi pirate parody are still clamoring for a Season 2 renewal. But HBO Max still remains silent on the show’s future. Creator David Jenkins doesn’t get it either, but fret not, he has a plan if the worst-case scenario happens.

Jenkins is campaigning for an Our Flag Means Death Season 2 just as much as the fanbase. He and Waititi previously shared they have no clue why the streaming service is delaying the renewal of the hit show. But Jenkins told TheWrap he believes Warner Bros.’ merger with Discovery has something to do with it.

“It’s hard because of the analytics. And HBO Max. And then, you know, HBO Max has gone through a lot. They’ve got this huge merger. People get scared for their jobs, rightfully so,” he said. “And then their metrics are their own, they don’t really share. They don’t really share their viewership data even with us. It’s pretty unclear what’s going to happen.”

One thing’s for sure, Jenkins won’t give up without a fight. He shared his next steps if HBO Max cancels Our Flag Means Death on Twitter on April 27.

“Hi @david_jenkins__ if OFMD doesn’t get renewed, can you promise to at least let us know how their love story would end? I would be okay with any medium – a comic, a tweet, a full length movie. But I need a cannon ending. #RenewOurFlagMeansDeath,” one eager fan tweeted.

“First step would be to see if another streamer would like a hit show that’s become a cultural phenomenon,” Jenkins replied. “I’m told those are desirable.”

Yeah, we’d say it’s fairly accurate that streaming services would enjoy having a hit series. How long do we have to keep screaming this into the void before our favorite pirate boyfriends get to continue their story? If the unspeakable should happen and the series is left with that massive cliffhanger of an ending, it’s good to hear the cast and crew will try to get it produced elsewhere.

The current age of TV makes saving a beloved series more possible than ever. Brooklyn Nine-Nine was saved by NBC after FOX nixed it. It’s hard to imagine there aren’t other streaming services that would be eager to offer Our Flag a lifeboat. Not only because analysis from Parrot Analytics states it’s the most popular show on the internet right now with nothing in close competition, but also because of the optic benefits of saving such a beloved series.

our flag means death taika waititi and rhys darby

HBO Max

The Our Flag fandom is so strong and ever-growing, it’s wild that HBO Max would risk alienating it by refusing to bring the show back. And truly, the decision would wreak of homophobia to some. Another streaming service coming to its rescue has clear monetary and social benefits.

Jenkins has already prepared for the worst and finds solace in the fact that he and the crew created such a beloved show.

“This is not what you want to hear when you want something to come back,” Jenkins said, “but it is on some level like amazing that they let us do this. And if they decide not to do it, it’s going to be a bummer. But ultimately at the end of the day, don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Thanks, but we’ll definitely still cry. A lot. And the Our Flag fandom agrees. Just look at the tweets from fans begging for HBO Max to #RenewOurFlagMeansDeath:

If and when the renewal does come, Jenkins knows where he wants to take Season 2 next. And it’s an exciting peek into future scalawag shenanigans with the “unusually strong” cast.

“That’s the joy of working with an ensemble,” he told TheWrap. “And, you know, the tricky thing about making the first season of an ensemble comedy is you don’t really know what everybody’s superpower is. And then you learn it. With a second season, you know everybody and what they do way better and you can, make it tailor made for them.”

The cast also can’t believe the outpouring of love and fervor for the series, saying, “I think we’re all in awe. Other people I’ve talked to in the cast and the production, I think everybody’s like, You never get this. This never happens. It’s one of those things where you just savor it, because how often does this happen?”

Once in a blue moon, my friend. Let’s all try to bask in the moon glow.

Our Flag Means Death, Season 1, Streaming Now, HBO Max