Comic-Con 2013: Starz Screening Michael Bay Pirate Drama ‘Black Sails’

News of Comic-Con 2013's many panels and events is starting to pour in, so Starz has issued the first major announcement of their own. The forthcoming Michael Bay-produced pirate drama and 'Treasure Island' prequel 'Black Sails' will hold a fan-only sneak peek screening of the pilot episode, and we've got all the details!

In addition to a screening of the pilot episode on Thursday, July 18th during the massive international pop culture celebration, Starz will soon announce special guests to be present for the screening. The Captain Flint-centric ‘Treasure Island’ prequel series will make its official debut in January 2014.

The series comes from ‘Jericho‘ creator Jon Steinberg, and stars ‘Die Another Day’ villain Toby Stephens as the iconic Captain Flint and ‘Shameless‘ vet Zach McGowan as Captain Charles Vane. It centers on the tales of Flint and his men 20 years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel. From Starz's official description of 'Black Sails':

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

The series also stars Zach McGowan (“Shameless”) as rival Captain Charles Vane; Toby Schmitz as Rackham, Vane’s right hand; Hannah New as Eleanor Guthrie, a determined young woman who runs the smuggling operation on New Providence; Jessica Parker Kennedy as Max, a tortured young prostitute who sees the dark side of New Providence; Clara Paget as the beautiful but cold-blooded Anne Bonny and Tom Hopper (“Merlin”) as Billy Bones, boatswain of Flint’s ship.

We'll be sure to bring you the latest from 'Black Sails'' Comic-Con 2013 screening from San Diego, but in the meantime check out the first trailer below and tell us what you want to see from the new Starz series!