Former SNL member Fred Armisen and Vida’s Vico Ortiz have been cast in HBO Max’s comedy series Our Flag Means Death.
The series is loosely based on the true adventures of Stede Bonnet, a pampered aristocrat from the 18th century who abandoned his life of privilege to become a pirate, according to a press statement from the streamer. Bonnet, who became known as “The Gentleman Pirate,” will be played by the New Zealand-born L.A.-based comedy actor Rhys Darby (Yes Man, How I Met Your Mother).
Ortiz’s character is named Bonifacia but Armisen’s role has yet to be announced.
Armisen, whose mother is Venezuelan, is among the few Latinos who have joined SNL in the long history of the Emmy Award-winning late-night comedy showcase. He was nominated for various Emmys for the variety sketch series Portlandia and Documentary Now! Portandia, which he starred, directed, wrote and produced, and won him a Peabody Award. His other credits include Los Espookys, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Easy A.
Ortiz is a Puerto Rico-born Latinx, non-binary and gender-fluid rising actor who gained notoriety as Cindy in the Amazon series Transparent. She has also been featured in the series The Fosters, Lucifer and Criminal Minds. More recently, the Boricua artist has had a guest-starring role in American Horror Story: 1984 and a recurring role in the GLAAD-nominated freeform comedy Everything’s Gonna Be Okay.
The SNL alumnus and the Vida actor are joining a cast that includes a couple of Academy Award winners, albeit in non-acting categories. Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) is cast as Blackbeard, history’s feared pirate–he won the Oscar for writing Jojo Rabbit. And Nat Faxon (HouseBroken), who won the Oscar for writing The Descendants, will also star in an as yet unspecified role.
The ensemble cast also includes Ewen Bremner (Trainspotting), David Fane (The Tattooist), Nathan Foad (Listen to Bapou), Joel Fry (Game of Thrones), Leslie Jones (SNL), Samson Kayo (Famalam), Guz Khan (Four Weddings and a Funeral, series), Rory Kinnear (The Imitation Game), Matt Maher (Gone Baby Gone), Kristian Nairn (Game of Thrones) and Con O’Neill (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King).
Armisen is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners, WME and Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman.
Vico Ortiz is represented by BBA Talent and DePaz Management.
Featured Photos: Fred Armisen (Courtesy: Warner Media); Vico Ortiz (Courtesy of artist)