Starz’ ‘Black Sails’ Casts Bond Villain As Captain Flint

Of all the villains James Bond has faced over the course of his decades-long tenure, did you ever see him go up against classic literary character Captain Flint?  Well, you already have!  As Starz gears up for production of its Michael Bay-produced 'Treasure Island' prequel 'Black Sails,' the talk of the seas is who could fill the boots of the iconic Captain Flint.  So when looking for an iconic British villain, why go further than one of 007's fallen foes?

Thanks to Deadline, we now know that Starz' Michael Bay-produced 'Treasure Island' prequel series 'Black Sails' has made its most important casting to date, filling the role of the legendary Captain Flint with that of 'Die Another Day' villain Toby Stephens.  Pre-production on the series is currently underway in Cape Town, South Africa, with Starz potentially eying it for launch in early 2014 in the Friday slot left by 'Spartacus' departure.

As captain of the Walrus, Stephens' Flint represents "the most brilliant and feared captain of all the Golden Age." 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 novel.  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.

What say you?  Do you think Toby Stephens has the right gravitas to play the cunning Captain Flint?  Will you check out 'Black Sails' when it comes to TV in 2014?  Give us your thoughts in the comments below!