''Blackbeard'' is a 2006 American

adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

television

miniseries In the United States, a miniseries or mini-series is a television show or series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. Many miniseries can also be referred to, and shown, as a television film. " Limited series" is ...

based on the pirate

Blackbeard Edward Teach (or Thatch; – 22 November 1718), better known as Blackbeard, was an English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of Britain's North American colonies. Little is known about his early life, but he ma ...

, directed by Kevin Connor from a screenplay written by

Bryce Zabel Bryce H. Zabel (born May 17, 1954) is an American television producer, director, writer, and occasional actor. With hundreds of hours of produced film and television credits, Zabel has scripted a trio of mini-series which aired in the U.S. He also ...

. It premiered on

Hallmark Channel Hallmark Channel is an American cable television network owned by Hallmark Media, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. The channel broadcasts family-oriented general entertainment programming, including television series and made-for-TV movies. ...

on June 17, 2006. The miniseries was shot on location in

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

and the town of

New Providence New Providence is the most populous island in The Bahamas, containing more than 70% of the total population. On the eastern side of the island is the national capital, national capital city of Nassau, Bahamas, Nassau; it had a population of 246 ...

was built on a coconut plantation, and includes many factual names and places, but it is essentially a fictional story since Blackbeard's most notable exploits took place in

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

Plot

In the first quarter of the 18th century,

, otherwise known as Edward Teach, was seen as the most notorious and dangerous seafaring pirate of all. Plying his trade around the

West Indies The West Indies is an island subregion of the Americas, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, which comprises 13 independent island country, island countries and 19 dependent territory, dependencies in thr ...

and the eastern coast of England’s North American colonies in his ship ''

Queen Anne's Revenge ''Queen Anne's Revenge'' was an early-18th-century ship, most famously used as a flagship by Edward Teach, better known by his nickname Blackbeard. The date and place of the ship's construction are uncertain, and there is no record of its action ...

''. Blackbeard wreaks havoc whilst looking for

Captain Kidd William Kidd (c. 1645 – 23 May 1701), also known as Captain William Kidd or simply Captain Kidd, was a Scottish-American privateer. Conflicting accounts exist regarding his early life, but he was likely born in Dundee and later settled in Ne ...

's treasure, and his dark presence causes controversy in the port town of New Providence (

The Bahamas The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic and island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean. It contains 97 per cent of the archipelago's land area and 88 per cent of ...

), especially for

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

Charles Eden and his adopted daughter Charlotte, who is being wooed by

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

Robert Maynard.Vincent Terrace, ''Encyclopedia of Television Miniseries, 1936-2020'' (2021), p. 23

Cast

Angus Macfadyen Angus Macfadyen (born 1963) is a Scottish actor. His roles include Robert the Bruce, both in ''Braveheart'' and ''Robert the Bruce'', Komodo in '' Warriors of Virtue'', Vice-Counsel Dupont in ''Equilibrium'', Jeff Denlon in the ''Saw'' franch ...

Mark Umbers Mark Umbers (born 17 June 1973) is an English theatre, film and television actor. Early life and education Born in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Umbers was brought up in Wetherby and was educated at Malsis School before attending Sedbergh School ...

as Lieutenant Robert Maynard *

Richard Chamberlain George Richard Chamberlain (March 31, 1934 – March 29, 2025) was an American actor and singer who became a teen idol in the title role of the television show '' Dr. Kildare'' (1961–1966). He subsequently earned the title "King of the Mini- ...

as Governor Charles Eden *

Jessica Chastain Jessica Michelle Chastain (born March 24, 1977) is an American actress and producer. Known for primarily starring in projects with Feminism, feminist themes, she has received List of awards and nominations received by Jessica Chastain, various ...

as Charlotte Ormand *

Stacy Keach Walter Stacy Keach Jr. (born June 2, 1941) is an American actor, active in theatre, film and television since the 1960s. Keach first distinguished himself in Off-Broadway productions and remains a prominent figure in American theatre across his ...

as Captain Benjamin Hornigold *

Clement von Franckenstein Clement George ''Freiherr'' von und zu Franckenstein (28 May 1944 – 9 May 2019) was an English actor, best known for his film and television work in the United States. A member of the Franckenstein family, he was the only son of Austrian dipl ...

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

Joseph Pennington *

Rachel Ward Rachel Claire Ward (born 12 September 1957) is an English-Australian actress,

as Sally Dunbar * Anthony Green as

Israel Hands Israel Hands, also known as Basilica Hands, was an 18th-century pirate best known for being second in command to Edward Teach (c. 1680 – 22 November 1718), better known as Blackbeard. His name serves as the basis for the name of the villainou ...

Jasper Britton Jasper Britton (born 11 December 1962) is an English actor. Early life and education Britton was born in Chelsea in London, and educated at Belmont Preparatory School, Sussex House School and Mill Hill School, north London. Britton is the on ...

as William Howard *

Niko Nicotera Niko Nicotera is a German-born American actor best known for playing George "Ratboy" Skogstrom in the television series ''Sons of Anarchy'' (2011–2014). Early life and education Niko was born in Giessen, Germany, on an American military base, ...

as Moses Hobbs *

Robin Strasser Robin Victory in Europe Strasser (born May 7, 1945) is an American actress, best known for her role as Dorian Lord on the ABC daytime soap opera ''One Life to Live''. Life and career Strasser's middle name is a tribute to her being born the d ...

as Felice Richmond *

Nicholas Farrell Nicholas C. Frost (born 1955), known professionally as Nicholas Farrell, is an English stage, film and television actor. Early life Farrell was born in Brentwood, Essex. He was educated at Fryerns Grammar and Technical School in Basildon, Ess ...

as Tobias Knight * David Winters as Silas Bridges *

Dom Hetrakul Dom Hetrakul (; , born April 9, 1976 in Bangkok, Thailand), is an actor known for his appearances in many Thai TV shows and films. He has also starred in Hollywood productions, with a frequent presence in martial arts Martial arts are codifie ...

as Seng *

Nigel Terry Peter Nigel Terry (15 August 1945 – 30 April 2015) was an English stage, film, and television actor, typically in historical and period roles. He played Prince John in Anthony Harvey's film '' The Lion in Winter'' (1968) and King Arthur in ...

as Calico Billy *Steven Elder as Lt. Jack Spector *

Paul Brightwell Paul Brightwell is an English actor and director. He has acted in many different plays, films and TV shows since the late 1980s. Theatre direction includes the British premieres of Heiner Muller's '' Hamletmachine'' at the Gate Notting Hill, and W ...

as Captain Ellis Brand *Andrew Smith as Benjamin Dow *Love Nystrom as Captain William Kidd *Stuart Lounton as Cordingly *Wendy Mae Brown as Lulu *Jake Curran as Joseph Prescott *Robert Willox as Snake Leavitt *Patrick Regis as Thatch *Alan Shearman as Enoch Sanborn *Danny Midwinter as Elias Ransom *

Bill Fellows Bill Fellows (born May 1957) is an English actor, known for his roles as Stu Carpenter in ''Coronation Street'' and George Cartrick in ''Ted Lasso''. Life and career Fellows was born in Middlesbrough. His theatre work includes Mickey in the ...

as Dr Peter Bruce *Christopher Clyde-Green as Black Caesar *Ken Forge as Phillips *Marion Valtas as Maddy *Greg Jorgensen as

Panhandler Begging (also known in North America as panhandling) is the practice of imploring others to grant a favor, often a gift of money, with little or no expectation of reciprocation. A person doing such is called a beggar or panhandler. Beggars m ...

*Jonathan Samson as Woodward *James Moody as Two-Face Askin *David Ismalone as Captain Jean D'Ocier *Jake Anthony as Minister *Greg Stefaniuk as Merchant Captain *Shaun Delaney as John Noble *James David McClurg as Shiny *Keith Lounton as Carlton *Johann Bento as French

First Mate A chief mate (C/M) or chief officer, usually also synonymous with the first mate or first officer, is a licensed mariner and head of the deck department of a merchant ship. The chief mate is customarily a watchstander and is in charge of the shi ...

*Thomas Kollon as Big John *Emma Passos as Mother *Damian Mavis as First Robber

Production

Despite being about the miniseries, the series is largely a remake of '' Captain Blood'' (1935). It was filmed by

Living Films Living Films is an international film production company based in Thailand. They have produced feature films, documentaries, commercials, and television series including ''The Hangover Part II,'' ''Shanghai (2010 film)'', and '' Changeland''. Its ...

on location around

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

Home media

It was released on

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...

Echo Bridge Entertainment Echo Bridge Entertainment was an American independent distribution company. It acquired and distributed feature films, scripted and non-scripted series, documentaries, and children's programming for home video, digital and television in the Unit ...

on July 11, 2006. It was later released in an international DVD edition re-titled ''Pirates: The True Story of Blackbeard'', though by the writer's own admission little of the screenplay was actually true.

References

External links

''Blackbeard''
at

's website *
''Blackbeard''
on https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallmark_Channel

– review & behind-the-scenes information

Elite Magazine {{Kevin Connor 2006 American television series debuts 2006 American television series endings 2000s American drama television series American adventure television series 2000s American television miniseries Cultural depictions of Blackbeard American English-language television shows