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Outlander is a historical fantasy romantic drama series developed by Ronald D. Moore. Based on Diana Gabaldon‘s book series of the same name, the Starz series follows Claire, a former World War II military nurse in Scotland who is transported back in time to the 1740s and soon finds herself falling for Jamie Fraser, a charming Highland warrior. Outlander stars Caitríona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Tobias Menzies, Graham McTavish, Duncan Lacroix, Grant O’Rourke, Stephen Walters, and Gary Lewis. So, if you loved the historical setting, romantic drama, and compelling characters in Outlander, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

A Discovery of Witches Credit – Sky Max

A Discovery of Witches is a British fantasy romance drama series. Based on Deborah Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy, the Sky series revolves around the love story of Dana Bishop,...

This summer marks the return of the Hollyshorts Film Festival for its 21st edition! From August 7 to August 15, 2025, the festival will showcase the best in short-form cinema across genres and styles. But, we here at Dread Central are most excited about their lineup of horror short films, which we have the privilege of announcing today.

For this year’s event, the Hollyshorts Film Festival boasts a roster of over 40 genre entries, all of which are vying for the Best Horror award.

Highlights from the phenomenal horror slate include Iris Dukatt’s nail-biting revenge thriller Long Pork, led by Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey; Bianca Poletti’s surreal homage to 80s horror Video Barn starring Grace Van Dien and Reina Hardesty; and Xian Elder’s Black vampire drama, Woke. A chaotic family dinner is at the heart of Matt Campanella’s Sunday Sauce, featuring a standout performance from Academy Award nominee Cathy Moriarty.

Josh Gates and the Expedition Unknown crew are back for another season of delving into history's mysteries. This week, he's hitting the high seas to track down one of the most infamous pirates in nautical history. Collider has an exclusive clip of "Treasure of the Pirate Queen," this week's all-new episode of Expedition Unknown, which sees Gates and company investigating Anne Bonny, a legendary female pirate. It will premiere on the Discovery Channel at 9 Pm Et on Wednesday, July 16.

In the clip, Gates is accompanied by local treasure hunters Harley Houston and Axel Macon in a temporarily drained South Carolina riverbed; they're searching for a rumored pirate trading post that allegedly existed there centuries earlier. Soon enough, the trio find treasure, but don't expect jewels and gold doubloons. The treasure they find is coral, which is not typically found in freshwater rivers; they theorize that it, and several other non-native stones found there,...

Quick Links 'Black Sails' Is a Spellbinding Historical Action Epic 'Black Sails' Dazzles and Delights Critics and Audiences

If there's one thing audiences can't get enough of when it comes to their streaming content, it's an epic, visually stunning production full of unforgettable characters, thrilling action sequences, and a spellbinding storyline. The historical action-adventure series Black Sails more than fits the bill, with the sweeping period drama chronicling the electrifying adventures of the notorious Captain Flint, who, along with his tough crew of fellow pirates, attempts to track down a mythical Spanish treasure while fighting for the survival of New Providence Island.

A prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's literary masterpiece Treasure Island, the rip-roaring program ran for four seasons from 2014 to 2017 and became a smash success for Starz, though in the years since its dazzling tenure Black Sails has become an overlooked entry in the world of television. The...

Pirates of the Caribbean brought swashbuckling adventure back to the big screen in 2003, and that instigated a wave of pirate-themed movies and TV shows on the back of it. Almost a decade after Jack Sparrow created a new pirate legend, Black Sails weighed anchor as a more mature offering that gave the characters of Robert Louis Stephenson’s Treasure Island new backstories in what really played out as Game of Thrones on the high seas. Now the series is coming to free streaming on Tubi, allowing those who have not yet watched the show to catch all the gritty action for free.

Originally broadcast from 2014 to 2017, the Treasure Island prequel features several familiar characters, including a certain John Silver and Captain Flint, as well as some real-life historical figures who cross paths with the fictional pirates years before the events of Stephenson’s novel. Essentially, what Wicked did for The Wizard of Oz....

One of the greatest pirate shows of all time will hit Tubi next month. The fan-favorite Black Sails debuted for free on January 18, 2014, on YouTube, several streaming platforms, and video-on-demand services before arriving on Starz a week later.

Black Sails will be available to stream on Tubi starting December 1. Created by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine, the historical action-adventure series is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's iconic 1883 novel Treasure Island. Black Sails, set in the 18th century during the Golden Age of Piracy and about twenty years from the events in Stevenson's novel, follows the dreaded Captain Flint, ably portrayed by Toby Stephens, as he attempts to protect the pirates' way of life and New Providence.

Related Game of Thrones' Canceled Jon Snow Spinoff Gets Unexpected Update From HBO Boss

Following Game of Thrones' series finale, HBO considered the idea of a series starring Kit Harington's Jon Snow.

‘The Pearl Comb’, written and directed by Ali Cook, marks his directorial debut and continues Ali Cook’s creative journey as a film maker.

It follows the film festival success of ‘The Cunning Man’, written by Ali Cook.

‘The Cunning Man’ earned significant acclaim, winning 33 awards and screening at over 88 international film festivals, including FrightFest, the Oscar-qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival, the Oscar-qualifying Cinequest, the BAFTA & BIFA-qualifying Norwich Film Festival, the BAFTA-qualifying Underwire Festival, Morbido, the BAFTA- qualifying Aesthetica Festival, the Oscar-qualifying In The Palace International Film Festival, and the BAFTA-qualifying Carmarthen Bay International Film Festival.

In 2019, ‘The Cunning Man’ was also BAFTA long listed and was the runner-up for the prestigious Méliès d’Argent award at the Abertoir Horror Festival.

Set in Victorian Cornwall, ‘The Pearl Comb’ follows a humble fisherman’s wife who becomes the first person ever to cure someone of tuberculosis, catching the attention of the medical profession.

Charles Vane's death in Black Sails season 3 was a significant event that sparked a revolution in the series. While Black Sails dramatizes events, the real Charles Vane was also hanged. Charles Vane's death influenced the stereotype of pirates.

Starz's Black Sails features several characters based on real-life pirates and their untimely deaths, including Captain Charles Vane, played by Zach McGowan. The historical adventure series, created by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine, is meant to serve as a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 book, Treasure Island, and chronicles the lives of pirates on New Providence Island in the Golden Age of Piracy in the early 18th century. Steinberg and Levine's show ran for four seasons before it came to an end, seeing as Black Sails' timeline had caught up to the events of Treasure Island.

Black Sails is available to stream on Netflix.

While the cast of Black Sails is large,...

Black Sails, a prequel to Treasure Island, blends history and fiction in a gripping tale of pirates and treasure quests. The series finale sees Flint and Silver unite against all odds, choosing love over war in a dramatic conclusion. Creator Jon Steinberg emphasizes the importance of the unlikely bond between Flint and Silver, driving the story's closure.

Conceived as a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Treasure Island novel, Black Sails ran on the Starz network for four seasons between 2014 and 2017 before concluding on an epic note. Blending historical facts with fictional characters, the story follows Captain James Flint (Toby Stephens) and his pirate crew as they attempt to find lost treasure aboard the sunken Urca de Lima cargo ship. As Flint's search brings him closer to enriching his mates, an all-out war between the Spanish and British Empire takes place to control the Caribbean.

Although four years have...

Black Sails is a detailed example of historical fiction, featuring real historical pirates in its main cast. The fates of historical pirates such as Anne Bonny, "Calico Jack" Rackham, and Charles Vane are depicted with similarities to history. Black Sails hints at the further adventures of real historical pirate Mary Read with Bonny and Rackham.

The TV show Black Sails is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel Treasure Island, following the adventures of Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and his crew of pirates. While the show is led by fictional characters such as Flint, the main Black Sails characters include real historical pirates like the infamous Long John Silver (Luke Arnold) and the mysterious Billy Bones (Tom Hopper). The historical pirates who appear in Black Sails operated in the Caribbean in the early 18th century, better known as the Golden Age of Piracy.

Most of the Black Sails...

Black Sails combines fact and fiction to create a gripping show rooted in the Golden Age of Piracy. Real-life pirates like Blackbeard and Anne Bonny are portrayed accurately, while some events have been fictionalized. The series blends historical facts with imaginary stories, making it a captivating portrayal of piracy in the 1800s.

Conceived as a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island, Black Sails is a historical adventure series on the Starz Network from 2014 to 2017. Set in the early 1800s during the Golden Age of Piracy, the four-season tale follows various real-life pirates and seafarers who interact with fictional characters dwelling on New Providence island in the Bahamas. Apart from chronicling the history of piracy, the inciting event of the series concerns the hunt for treasure aboard a Spanish ship called the Urca de Lima, prompting a war for control between the Spanish and British Empire.

With Black Sails...

The fictional ending of "Black Sails" gives Calico Jack and Anne Bonny a much happier fate than in real history. Real-life pirates like Charles Vane and Blackbeard are integrated into "Black Sails" with slight deviations from history. The show's creators intentionally left the fates of Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny open-ended, letting viewers speculate as Treasure Island did.

Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny, two of Black Sails' pirates who are based on real people, have a much happier ending in fiction than in reality. Starz's pirate show was conceived as a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, meaning Black Sails' cast includes actors playing fictional characters like Captain James Flint and Captain John Silver. Black Sails not only changes Treasure Island as a result of this, but it also marks some deviations from real-world history.

The reason for this surrounds Black Sails' involvement of real pirates in a fictional story,...

Black Sails is a must-watch prequel to Treasure Island with fascinating characters like Tom Hopper's Billy Bones. The Umbrella Academy gives Hopper a meatier role as Luther and is a better display for his range as a performer. Both Black Sails and The Umbrella Academy are strong showcases for Tom Hopper as a performer.

Tom Hopper's Billy Bones is an audience favorite from Black Sails, and there's a certain Netflix show fans of the character should seek out next. Black Sails acts as a prequel to Treasure Island and was produced by Michael Bay, so it was always going to either be a total mess or must-watch entertainment. Thankfully, the pirate saga (which ran from 2014 to 2017) proved to be the latter, with the historical action series following Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and his not-so-merry band of pirates.

Black Sails' cast of characters is a colorful one, and viewers who...

Captain Henry Avery, though never physically seen, played a significant role in Black Sails, with characters having mixed opinions and emotions about him. Captain Avery, also known as Henry Every, was a successful and notorious pirate during the Golden Age of Piracy, with his raids and escapes inspiring other famous pirates. The true fate of Captain Avery remains unknown, with theories ranging from squandering his riches to living out his life in obscurity. Still, his legacy was respected and admired throughout Black Sails.

Since it debuted on Starz in 2014, the pirate adventure series Black Sails has received high praise for its portrayal of the Golden Age of Piracy. Set in the 18th century, Black Sails serves as a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's popular novel Treasure Island and follows a young Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and his crew members, as they fight for the survival of New Providence Island.

Israel Hands was Blackbeard's first mate, according to historical accounts. Despite his brutality in Black Sails, Hands maintains unwavering loyalty to Blackbeard, which eventually pays off when he is made captain of Adventure.

When Jonathan E. Steinberg's historical adventure series, Black Sails, premiered on Starz, it introduced a number of famous pirates who actually existed during the Golden Age of Piracy, one of them being Israel Hands. A prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel, Treasure Island, Black Sails follows a young Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and his crew members, who fight for the survival of New Providence Island. During their quest, Flint and his crew encounter various favorite pirates like Anne Bonny (Clara Paget), Blackbeard (Ray Stevenson), and of course Israel Hands (David Wilmot).

First introduced in season 4 of Black Sails, Israel Hands made a great impression of being a brutal pirate who was willing to do...

Darius Campbell Danesh, the “Pop Idol” runner up and West End Star has died, the BBC reports. He was 41.

The singer, who was Scottish, was reportedly found dead in an apartment in Rochester, Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 11. A spokesperson for the Rochester police department told Variety his death is currently the subject of “an open investigation.”

The spokesperson would not comment on whether there were any suspicious circumstances.

Danesh was catapulted into the public eye in 2001 with his rendition of Britney Spears chart-topper “Hit Me Baby One More Time” on one of the U.K.’s early naughties singing competition shows “Pop Stars.” The following year he also appeared on the first season of British “Americon Idol” prototype “Pop Idol,” finishing third behind Will Young and Gareth Gates.

Danesh went onto release a single, “Colourblind,” which reached the number one spot in the U.K. charts, while a follow-up album,...

Black Sails is a fun, sexy, action-packed take on pirate lore based on (and acting as a prequel to) Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. As well as having some fun speculating what younger versions of the iconic fictional characters might be like to live with, the show does the same with many real-world pirates from the era the story was set in, as did the novel.

Related: Black Sails: 10 Hidden Details About The Main Characters Everyone Missed

One such character was Anne Bonny, portrayed in the show by Clara Paget, one of history's most renowned pirates, and probably the most famous female pirate out of the Western Hemisphere. While the show modeled the character after the real woman, many aspects of her back story were tweaked or left out.

Netflix was in fashion this week as it wined and dined the cream of the U.K.’s rising talent, including BAFTA’s Breakthrough Brits. The streaming giant teamed with Vogue for a dinner at Soho nightspot Kettners, hosted by its London-based VP of originals, Anne Mensah, and Edward Ennuinful, editor-in-chief of the British edition of the fashion bible.

Netflix has partnered with BAFTA on its Breakthrough Brits talent scheme, and is pushing deeper into local originals as it looks to the international business as a key growth-driver. Winning over the U.K.’s best writers, actors, directors, and producers is part of the plan, not least as it tees up productions that will shoot at Shepperton Studios, its massive new production hub near London.

“You guys are the people who literally keep our lights on – creatively and figuratively,” Mensah told the assembled talent as they sat down to dinner after a drinks reception.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!Black Sails pillaged and plundered for the last time this past weekend. Recently, creators Robert Levine and Jonathan E. Steinberg spoke with Deadline about the Starz series' finale.The adventure drama is set roughly 20 years prior to the events depicted in the Treasure Island novel and follows the most feared pirate of the day, Captain Flint (Toby Stephens). The cast also includes Hannah New, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Toby Schmitz, Clara Paget, Ray Stevenson, Luke Roberts, and Zethu Diomo.Read More…...

Fans of the Black Sails TV show don't have to worry that the Starz series will be cancelled this time around. It's already been announced that season four is the end and there won't be a fifth season. Will the ratings improve in the final season, now that the show's moved to Sunday nights? Stay tuned.The Black Sails TV show is set roughly 20 years prior to the events depicted in the Treasure Island novel and follows the most feared pirate of the day, Captain Flint (Toby Stephens). The final season finds the pirates at war in the West Indies. The shores of New Providence Island have never been bloodier, but the closer civilization comes to defeat, the more desperately, and destructively, it will fight back. The cast also includes Hannah New, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Toby Schmitz, Clara Paget, Ray Stevenson, Luke...

Check out "A Legend Will Rise" -- Starz' new trailer for the fourth and final season of the Black Sails TV show. A prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, Black Sails stars Toby Stephens, Luke Arnold, Zach McGowan, Hannah New, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Toby Schmitz, Clara Paget, and Winston Chong.Black Sails, season four, premieres on Starz, Sunday, January 29, 2017 at 9:00pm Et/Pt. Starz promises the final ten-episode season will bring fans to the "heroic conclusion."Read More…...

One month after Amber Heard and ex Johnny Depp reached a divorce settlement, it was time was a girls' night out. Heard hit up the star-studded Love Magazine Party, held at Lou Lou's private members club, in celebration of London Fashion Week with pal Cara Delevingne. Dressed down in skinny leather pants, a checkered shirt and black booties, Heard, 30, was spotted exiting the bash with model Clara Paget. Delevingne, 24, exited separately wearing a black leather jacket, black skinny jeans and a low-cut patterned top. The model was spotted earlier in the day at the Burberry show. Other frequent faces...

Network: Starz

Episodes: Ongoing (hour)

Seasons: Ongoing

TV show dates: January 25, 2014 -- present

Series status: Has not been cancelled

Performers include: Toby Stephens, Hannah New, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Zach McGowan, Toby Schmitz, Clara Paget, Mark Ryan, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Sean Cameron Michael, Louise Barnes, Rupert Penry-Jones, Luke Roberts, and Ray Stevenson.

TV show description:

This adventure series takes place in 1715 in the Caribbean. Pirates have been declared enemies of all civilization. Ruthless Captain Flint (Toby Stevens) is feared amongst pirates and is facing threats on all sides.

A former British colony, New Providence Island has become a notorious haven for pirates, prostitutes, and criminals. Richard Guthrie (Sean Cameron Mitchell) and his daughter Eleanor (Hannah New) run a smuggling operation on the island, turning the pirate’s ill-gotten gains into profits.

Star Toby Schmitz (Jack Rackham) and executive producer Jonathan E. Steinberg explore the real-life pirates their Starz series Black Sails is based on, in our exclusive preview from Black Sails: The Complete Second Season. Before you can relive the entire season on Blu-ray and DVD starting November 3, our preview sheds some new light on the actual pirates who controlled Nassau, which inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. This series is set 20 years before the events in Treasure Island, but it also explores the historical nature of the pirates that inspired the classic tale.

Black Sails: The Complete Second Season begins where we left off, as the Walrus crew is stranded with an army of Spanish soldiers standing between them and the precious Urca gold. And with their crimes against their brethren no longer a secret, Flint (Toby Stephens) and Silver (Luke Arnold) must join forces in a desperate bid for survival.

Always up for a good time, Cara Delevingne stepped out with a few friends to commemorate her 23rd birthday on Thursday evening (August 13) in Toronto, Canada.

Despite the fact that her actual birthday was on Wednesday, the English model took pals Suki Waterhouse, Poppy Jamie and Clara Paget out on the town.

Sporting “CD23” shirts, the whole gang snapped photos for Instagram and added captions like, “Jungle tumble,” and, “Birthday squad sillyness #CD23 ❤️ @caradelevingne @clarapaget @sukiwaterhouse @st_vincent.”...

Ray Stevenson has signed on to play Edward Teach, the notorious pirate Blackbeard, in the upcoming third season of Starz's pirate drama "Black Sails".

In the series, Blackbeard returns from a long absence to settle some unfinished business - but with so much having changed, he'll disrupt some cemented alliances and form some new ones.

The series airs its second season finale this weekend and production is currently underway on the third season in Cape Town, South Africa for airing in the first quarter of next year. Stevenson joins a cast that includes Toby Stephens, Hannah New, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Zach McGowan, Clara Paget and Toby Schmitz.

Starz has also released a brief 30-second feature showing some early filming on the third season, ending with a shot of Stevenson in costume.

Black Sails is to premiere in the UK on Amazon Prime Instant Video.

The Starz pirate drama's first season will be available on the movie and TV streaming subscription service from April 4.

Executive produced by Michael Bay, the series is set 20 years before Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. It follows Captain Flint and his crew as they aim to survive in the Bahamas while battling thieves and marauders.

Toby Stephens stars in the dark thriller, alongside Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Zach McGowan and Clara Paget.

"Black Sails is the kind of show with enough twists and turns to make viewers want to consume the whole adventure in one go," said Tim Leslie, Vice President of Amazon Instant Video for the UK.

"All eight episodes of the big-budget drama will be available from April 4, allowing those with an appetite for the pirate life to immerse themselves completely in the...

The Starz drama series Black Sails is set in 1715, when the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean is at its height and the former British colony of New Providence Island is now lawless territory controlled by the most notorious pirate captains in history.  As the British Navy returns to these waters and the threat of extinction looms, Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) finds an ally in Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New), the daughter of the local smuggling kingpin who is looking to make a name for herself, and together they devise a plan to hunt the ultimate treasure and save their home.  From Platinum Dunes, the show also stars Luke Arnold, Zach McGowan, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Toby Schmitz, Clara Paget, Mark Ryan and Hakeem Kae-Kazim. During this exclusive interview with Collider, actress Hannah New talked about how she came to this show, how much fun it is to play the woman in charge,...

The Starz drama series Black Sails is set in 1715, when the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean is at its height and the former British colony of New Providence Island is now lawless territory controlled by the most notorious pirate captains in history.  As the British Navy returns to these waters and the threat of extinction looms, Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) finds an ally in Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New), the daughter of the local smuggling kingpin who is looking to make a name for herself, and together they devise a plan to hunt the ultimate treasure and save their home.  From Platinum Dunes, the show also stars Luke Arnold, Zach McGowan, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Toby Schmitz, Clara Paget, Mark Ryan and Hakeem Kae-Kazim. During this recent exclusive interview with Collider, actor Zach McGowan (who plays Captain Vane, a financially successful pirate with a vicious temper) talked about...

The Starz drama series Black Sails is set in 1715, when the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean is at its height and the former British colony of New Providence Island is now lawless territory controlled by the most notorious pirate captains in history. As the British Navy returns to these waters and the threat of extinction looms, Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) finds an ally in Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New), the daughter of the local smuggling kingpin who is looking to make a name for herself, and together they devise a plan to hunt the ultimate treasure and save their home. From Platinum Dunes, the show also stars Luke Arnold, Zach McGowan, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Toby Schmitz, Clara Paget, Mark Ryan and Hakeem Kae-Kazim. During this recent exclusive interview with Collider, actor Luke Arnold (who plays John Silver) talked about how he came to be a part of Black Sails,...

Black Sails, Season 1: Episode 2 – “II.”

Written by Jonathan E. Steinberg & Robert Levine

Directed by Sam Miller

Airs Saturday nights at 9 on Starz

Following last week’s premiere of Black Sails, it was clear that the toughest obstacle the series was going to face in its first season was making such a large group of characters interesting enough that we have stakes in the landlocked portions of episodes. “II.” largely begins to address some of those concerns, and while there is still a lot of work to be done with central figures like John Silver and Charles Vane, the rest of the group members are starting to become much more recognizable as characters and not just people who are on the screen.

“II.” begins by focusing on what is currently the love story in Black Sails – the relationship between Hannah New’s Eleanor Guthrie and Jessica Parker Kennedy’s Max.

The Starz drama series Black Sails is set in 1715, when the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean is at its height and the former British colony of New Providence Island is now lawless territory controlled by the most notorious pirate captains in history. As the British Navy returns to these waters and the threat of extinction looms, Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) finds an ally in Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New), the daughter of the local smuggling kingpin who is looking to make a name for herself, and together they devise a plan to hunt the ultimate treasure and save their home. From Platinum Dunes, the show also stars Luke Arnold, Zach McGowan, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Toby Schmitz, Clara Paget, Mark Ryan and Hakeem Kae-Kazim. During this recent exclusive interview with Collider, actor Toby Stephens talked about how he came to be a part of Black Sails, what attracted him to this project,...

Starz is setting sail with a new drama when "Black Sails" launches Saturday (Jan. 25). 

The swashbuckling adventure combines real-life pirates from the 18th century, like Charles Vane (Zach McGowan), Calico John Rackham (Toby Schmitz) and Anne Bonny (Clara Paget) and characters from Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "Treasure Island," like Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and John Silver (Luke Arnold), with new fictional characters like Nassau proprietor Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New) and her right-hand man and woman, Mr. Scott (Hakeem Kae-Kazim) and Max (Jessica Parker Kennedy).

At first glance, the high seas adventure might appear to be more along the lines of former Starz program "Spartacus," which often seemed like a pornographic movie with fighting and a large budget. Like its predecessor, "Black Sails" does not shy away from violence and sex.

But four episodes in, "Black Sails" is actually spinning a cleverly-crafted tale of intrigue, secrets and deceit surrounding a...

Black Sails may be a prequel of sorts to the swashbuckling classic film Treasure Island, but there couldn’t be a larger dissonance in tone. Take that romanticized pirate mythology you grew up on as child and chuck it out of your memory. You won’t be seeing hooks for hands, mimicking parrots, wooden legs and whatever else fantasy pirate lore has accustomed your senses too. This isn’t your standard and traditional portrayal of pirates. Instead, Black Sails offers something far more violent, bloody, and savage that’s more in line with well, real pirates.

Set during the golden era of pirating, the series’ premiere lays the groundwork for the premise by introducing us to a slew of characters, grounded in both history and fiction. The golden age is currently under pressure as the Royal Navy begins cracking down on pirate export operations, and at the worst possible time,...

No need to pirate the series premiere of the Michael Bay-produced Starz series, Black Sails, as the network is offering it up free for the watching. Sure, it may be edited a bit for mature content, but the free offering gives a great first look to the new pirate series. If it wets your whistle, you still have a few days to subscribe to Starz before the show premieres this Saturday. Starring Toby Stephens, Hannah New, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Zach McGowan, Toby Schmitz, Clara Paget, Mark Ryan, and Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Black Sails premieres on Starz January 25th at 9pm Et/Pt. Hit the jump to watch the pilot. Watch the pilot of Black Sails below and head over to Starz for more on the series (via TV.com): Here’s the official synopsis for Black Sails: The highly anticipated pirate adventure, Black Sails,...

Starz is bringing a new drama to life when "Black Sails" premieres next weekend. But if you don't want to wait that long, the channel has released the first episode early. The video above is the premiere episode in its entirety.

The swashbuckling show chronicles the adventures of pirates in the early 1700s, or what is referred to as the "golden age" of piracy. A prequel, of sorts, to the events of literary classic "Treasure Island," the show has real-life pirates like Charles Vane (Zach McGowan), John Rackham (Toby Schmitz) and Anne Bonny (Clara Paget) joining fictional characters like Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New) and Long John Silver (Luke Arnold) in the Caribbean in a race for an enormous treasure, and it sounds as though the actors loved making first season as much as we've enjoyed watching it so far.

"This is the project you hope comes along your whole career,...

Starz has released another trailer for their great looking new pirate series Black Sails! The story focuses on the adventures of Captain Flint and his men. It takes place twenty years before the events of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. I'm really looking forward to this series, it looks like one that a lot people could get hooked on. Hopefully it turns out as good as it looks!

Flint (Toby Stephens), the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his day, takes on a fast-talking young addition to his crew who goes by the name John Silver (Luke Arnold). Threatened with extinction on all sides, they fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day – a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers, a place defined by both its enlightened ideals and its stunning brutality.

The series also...

Starz has released a behind the scenes featurette for their Michael Bay-produced pirate series Black Sails. The story focuses on the adventures of Captain Flint and his men, and it takes place twenty years before Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island. It's about time we get a TV series about pirates, and this one looks like it's going to be pretty fantastic!

Flint (Toby Stephens), the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his day, takes on a fast-talking young addition to his crew who goes by the name John Silver (Luke Arnold). Threatened with extinction on all sides, they fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day – a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers, a place defined by both its enlightened ideals and its stunning brutality.

The series also stars Zach McGowan (Shameless) as...

Starz has released several new sexy and action-pakced photos of the cast of the upcoming pirate drama "Black Sails," from executive producer Michael Bay (the "Transformers" films). The "Treasure Island" prequel stars Hannah New, Toby Stephens, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Mark Ryan, Hakeem Kae Kazim, Clara Paget and Zach McGowan. "Black Sails" will premiere Saturday, January 25th at 9 pm Et/Pt.  Check out the photos here:...

Starz has released an awesome trailer for their new pirate series, Black Sail, and it looks like it's going to be great! I've been wanting to see a badass hardcore pirate series or film for a long time, and it looks like producer Michael Bay has developed something really freakin' cool! I can't wait to watch it! Here's the synopsis:

The pirate adventure centers on the tales of Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and his men and takes place twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "Treasure Island." Flint, the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his day, takes on a fast-talking young addition to his crew who goes by the name John Silver (Luke Arnold). Threatened with extinction on all sides, they fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day - a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes,...

Sneak Peek new images and a new trailer revealing more footage from the upcoming Starz  sex and violence 'pirate' TV series "Black Sails", debuting January 2014.

"...'Flint', the most brilliant and feared captain of all the 'Golden Age' pirates is commander of the ship 'Walrus'.

"Flint adds a young stranger to his crew who goes by the name of  'John Silver' who has stolen a map to a Spanish Treasure galleon that Flint is after. 

"Threatened with extinction on all sides...

"...he and his crew fight for the survival of 'New Providence Island'...

"...the most notorious criminal haven of its day - a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers..." 

Cast includes Toby Stephens as 'Captain Flint', Tom Hopper as 'Billy Bones', Louise Barnes as 'Miranda Barlow' and Jessica Parker Kennedy as 'Max'.

Hannah New is 'Eleanor', Zach McGowan is 'Captain Charles Vane',...

Sneak Peek more new footage from the upcoming Starz  'pirate' TV series "Black Sails", renewed for a second season of 10 episodes, before the first season debuts January 2014.

"...'Flint', the most brilliant and feared captain of all the 'Golden Age' pirates is commander of the ship 'Walrus'.

"Flint adds a young stranger to his crew who goes by the name of  'John Silver' who has stolen a map to a Spanish Treasure galleon that Flint is after. 

"Threatened with extinction on all sides...

"...he and his crew fight for the survival of 'New Providence Island'...

"...the most notorious criminal haven of its day - a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers..." 

Cast includes Toby Stephens as 'Captain Flint', Tom Hopper as 'Billy Bones', Louise Barnes as 'Miranda Barlow', Jessica Parker Kennedy as 'Max', Hannah New as 'Eleanor', Zach McGowan as 'Captain Charles Vane',...

The new Starz  'pirate' TV series "Black Sails" has been renewed for a second season of 10 episodes, before the first season debuts in 2014.

"...'Flint', the most brilliant and feared captain of all the 'Golden Age' pirates is commander of the ship 'Walrus'.

"Flint adds a young stranger to his crew who goes by the name of  'John Silver' who has stolen a map to a Spanish Treasure galleon that Flint is after. 

"Threatened with extinction on all sides, he and his crew fight for the survival of 'New Providence Island'...

"...the most notorious criminal haven of its day - a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers..." 

Cast includes Toby Stephens as 'Captain Flint', Tom Hopper as 'Billy Bones', Louise Barnes as 'Miranda Barlow', Jessica Parker Kennedy as 'Max', Hannah New as 'Eleanor', Zach McGowan as 'Captain Charles Vane', Luke Arnold as 'John Silver',...

Fast & Furious 6 cars, Star Trek into Darkness spaceship pass $200 million milestone at North America box office According to weekend box-office studio estimates released Sunday morning (June 9), two blockbusters passed the $200 million milestone in North America this past weekend: Justin Lin’s actioner Fast & Furious 6, starring fast and furious cars, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, and Vin Diesel, and J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek into Darkness, starring the star-trekking spaceship Enterprise, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and Benedict Cumberbatch. However, box-office actuals released on Monday revealed that Star Trek into Darkness studio Paramount had been a bit too optimistic. (Photo: one of the Fast & Furious 6 cars, with Vin Diesel at the wheel.) At no. 2 this past weekend, Fast & Furious 6 added $19.62 million (down 44%), cuming at $202.81 million according to figures found at Box Office Mojo. Including Monday figures, the worldwide cume for the $160 million-budgeted sixth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise is an estimated $586.66 million.

Like the characters in the franchise, director Justin Lin reassembles his trustworthy team of writers Chris Morgan and Gary Scott Thompson to pen another episode of the adrenaline-pumping, big-action smashing and testosterone-dripping Fast & Furious mayhem that throws reality and caution to the wind in Version 6. Rio’s favelas played host last time in 2011 and got royally destroyed.

This time it’s London’s city skyline and tourist spots’ turn in 2013, completely farcical for supposed high-speed car chases, considering the usual gridlock on the capital’s roads, whatever the hour and especially around Piccadilly Circus, but utterly enthralling once you’ve suspended total disbelief. Maybe it’s the arresting sight of the ever-increasing muscle mass of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson who reappears as beefcake lawman Luke Hobbs, or Vin Diesel’s ever-loyal, brooding and likeable Dominic Toretto’s vow to find out the truth behind lover Letty’s (Michelle Rodriguez) death...

Starz has announced a premiere date and unveiled the first poster for the Michael Bay-produced pirate drama series Black Sails. The show takes place 20 years before the events of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island and centers on Captain Flint (the deceased pirate who literally put the treasure in Treasure Island) and a young Long John Silver as they fight for the defense of notorious criminal haven New Providence Island. The series has been slated for a January 2014 premiere, and it should make for a nice pairing with the network’s period-centric Da Vinci’s Demons, which premiered to successful ratings earlier this year and has already been renewed for a second season. Hit the jump to check out the first poster and two teaser videos for Black Sails, and click here to watch the debut trailer. The series stars Toby Stephens, Luke Arnold, Zach McGowan, Toby Schmitz,...

Starz has unveiled the first look at "Treasure Island"-inspired action series "Black Sails" from executive producer Michael Bay, and it's exactly what you'd expect from a Starz/Bay collaboration.

Set to premiere in 2014, the eight-episode series is the latest in Starz's brand of racy historical adventures including the recently concluded "Spartacus" and the recently launched "Da Vinci's Demons."

Set twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "Treasure Island," the series centers on brilliant and feared pirate Captain Flint (Toby Stephens, who played the villain in "Die Another Day"), who accepts fast talking young man John Silver (Australian TV veteran Luke Arnold) onto his crew.

"Black Sails" was created by showrunner and executive producer Jon Steinberg (the of creator "Jericho" and "Human Target") and co-executive producer Robert Levine ("Touch").

The series is currently filming in Cape Town, South Africa, and also stars Zach McGowan ("Shameless"), Hannah New ("Maleficent...

Michael Bay's new pirate drama "Black Sails" now has a trailer!

The Starz series will hit airwaves in 2014, but you don't have to wait that long to see a preview. The "Black Sails" trailer above provides a good look at the upcoming series, which should interest fans of Starz's recently departed "Spartacus" -- there are abs, sword fights and accents!

The eight-episode first season of "Black Sails" is set 20 years before Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "Treasure Island." The series will follow Captain Flint (Toby Stephens), the most brilliant and feared pirate captain of his day, whose new young addition to his crew, John Silver (Luke Arnold), has stolen a map to a Spanish Treasure galleon that Flint is after. Together, they fight against the British Royal Navy for the survival of New Providence Island, a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers. Zack McGowan, Hannah New,...

Starz has sent along new photos from Michael Bay's Black Sails which show the stunning ship, as well as photos of Toby Stephens who plays Flint and Clara Paget as the gorgeous, yet but cold-blooded Anne Bonny. These join the first trailer we added earlier, whsich you can also watch below as well. The eight-episode first season of the pirate adventure centers on the tales of Captain Flint and his men, and takes place twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic “Treasure Island.” Toby Stephens stars as Flint, the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his day, takes on a fast-talking young addition to his crew who goes by the name John Silver. Threatened with extinction on all sides, they fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day – a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers,...

Starz has sent along new photos from Michael Bay's Black Sails which show the stunning ship, as well as photos of Toby Stephens who plays Flint and Clara Paget as the gorgeous, yet but cold-blooded Anne Bonny. These join the first trailer we added earlier, whsich you can also watch below as well. The eight-episode first season of the pirate adventure centers on the tales of Captain Flint and his men, and takes place twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic “Treasure Island.” Toby Stephens stars as Flint, the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his day, takes on a fast-talking young addition to his crew who goes by the name John Silver. Threatened with extinction on all sides, they fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day – a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers,...