BBC ACQUIRE 'SEARCH PARTY' AND OUR 'FLAG MEANS DEATH' FROM WARNER BROS
From Warner Bros. Discovery International Television Distribution, BBC acquires two new shows coming to iPlayer in early 2023.
Sue Deeks, Head of Programme Acquisition says: "Search Party is a deliciously dark and quirky comedy thriller; Our Flag Means Death is a wonderfully rich and warm-hearted period comedy. We are truly delighted that these two critically acclaimed series will be joining our Channels and iPlayer line-up."
Alison Morris, SVP Television, Digital & Affiliate Distribution at Warner Bros. Discovery says: “We’re thrilled that Search Party and Our Flag Means Death have both found their UK home at the BBC. They are two very different but brilliant comedies that have helped to make HBO MAX such a success in the US.”
From creator David Jenkins and executive producer Taika Waititi, Our Flag Means Death, for BBC Two and iPlayer, is a unique new comedy loosely based on the true adventures of 18th-century would-be pirate, Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby).
Audiences will join Stede and his crew as they attempt to get their ship together and survive life on the high seas. After trading in the seemingly charmed life of a gentleman for one of a swashbuckling buccaneer, Stede becomes captain of the pirate ship Revenge. Struggling to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew, Stede's fortunes change after a fateful run-in with the infamous Captain Blackbeard (Taika Waititi), history's greatest pirate.
The HBO Max Original comedy series Our Flag Means Death is executive produced by Academy Award® winner Waititi, alongside showrunner David Jenkins, Emmy®-nominated producer Garrett Basch, and Dan Halsted.
In addition to Darby and Waititi, the ensemble cast stars Nathan Foad, Samson Kayo, Vico Ortiz, Ewen Bremner, Joel Fry, Matt Maher, Kristian Nairn, Con O’Neill, Guz Khan, David Fane, Rory Kinnear, Samba Schutte, Nat Faxon, Fred Armisen and Leslie Jones.
Dark comedy series Search Party, a trenchant satire of millennial culture, full of escalating events and consequences, is coming to BBC Three & iPlayer.
The disappearance of former college acquaintance Chantal leads several twenty-somethings to get entangled in the mystery of her going missing.
Heading the search party is Dory, a lifelong doormat who works as a rich housewife's assistant. Dory makes it her personal mission to find Chantal and involves her friends in the investigation. Narcissist Elliott can sometimes put his ego aside to help Dory, brazenness being useful in detective work.
Bubbly actress Portia excels at chatting up suspects for information because of her desperate need to be in the spotlight. Sheltered Drew has to grow a spine to help solve the mystery and save his deteriorating relationship with Dory. Dory's ex-boyfriend Julian seeks the truth because of his background as a journalist. However, finding Chantal is just the start…
Search Party stars Alia Shawkat, John Reynolds, John Early and Meredith Hagner. The first three seasons follow best friends Dory (Shawkat), Drew (Reynolds), Elliott (Early) and Portia (Hagner) through a messy private investigation, semi-accidental murder, absurd cover-up and sensational trial. In season four, Dory is held prisoner by her psychotic stalker Chip (Cole Escola), forcing Drew, Elliott and Portia to once again become a search party – but this time, for Dory.
In season five, Dory (Alia Shawkat) enters a very public business partnership with charismatic tech billionaire Tunnel Quinn (Jeff Goldblum) on the other side of her near-death experience. Dory folds her old friends Portia (Meredith Hagner), Elliott (John Early) and Drew (John Reynolds) into the venture as they embark on an altruistic but terrifying journey.
Joining the show’s stellar guest stars are Susan Sarandon, Busy Philipps, Ann Dowd, Griffin Dunne and Lillias White, as well as R.L. Stine in a cameo role.
Joining the cast are recurring guest stars Kathy Griffin, John Waters, Aparna Nancherla, Angela Trimbur, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Greta Titelman, Joe Castle Baker, Larry Owens and Michelle Badillo. Returning recurring guest stars include Jeffery Self and Clare McNulty.
Search Party is executive produced by Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, Michael Showalter and Lilly Burns and Tony Hernandez for Jax Media.