Thank goodness Michael Bay‘s next project still takes place in the age of gunpowder, otherwise the director’s first TV foray would be dreadfully devoid of explosions.  But if Michael Bay really is to take to TV for a new Starz series, what classic story might the upcoming ‘Black Sails’ draw its inspiration from, how will it manage to incorporate giant robots?

Starz and legendarily explosive director Michael Bay have announced their intent to produce a new eight-episode  TV series for 2014, a rollicking high seas pirate tale entitled ‘Black Sails,’  co-produced along with Bay’s Platinum Dunes partners Brad Fuller and Andrew Form.  The series, from ‘Jericho‘ creator Jon Steinberg, centers on the tales of Captain Flint and his men, taking place twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel ‘Treasure Island.’

From the official description:

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, a place defined by both its enlightened ideals and its stunning brutality.

Bay says of his involvement with the series that “I’m excited to branch out into television, especially doing a long-form series for STARZ, a network known for supporting cutting edge programming.”  Starz Chief Executive Officer Chris Albrecht, who first announced the series also had his own take on the collaboration between Starz and the director:

“Starz is excited to be working with a visionary like Michael. Along with the high-octane action that is a hallmark of a Michael Bay production, it has the elements that Starz originals are striving to bring to the premium landscape: epic, larger than life, cinematic storytelling. The series is also a property we believe will appeal to the global content marketplace with broadcasters around the world.”

‘Black Sails,’ a tentative title for now, will begin shooting in South Africa’s Cape Town Studios later this year, for a tentative air date of 2014.

What say you?  Can Michael Bay handle pirate action on the high seas, or are his explosive attentions best left to ‘Transformers‘ and ‘Ninja Turtles?’  How will ‘Black Sails’ fit in with Starz’ other period pieces like ‘Spartacus‘ and ‘Magic City?’  Tell us if ‘Black Sails’ captures your interest in the comments below!

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