black sails season 5: Why there won't be a Black Sails Season 5

As old fans know well enough, Starz's pirate show, Black Sails, will not be returning for a fifth season. After its debut in 2014, the series ended its run with season four in 2017. According to the makers, the show was not canceled, but came to its natural end as they intended.

In a public statement released in July 2016, series co-creator Jonathan E. Steinberg noted:

"It’s a rare privilege in television to be given the kind of creative freedom we’ve enjoyed on this show over the last four years. While it was a difficult decision for us to make this season our last, we simply couldn’t imagine anything beyond it that would make for a better ending to the story nor a more natural handoff to Treasure Island."

Despite it being six years since its end, Black Sails continues to attract new viewers, and was even added to Netflix in April 2024. This has once again brought forth questions regarding a fifth season for the show.

This article will explore why Black Sails ended with season four and will not return for a fifth installment.

The absence of Black Sails Season 5, explained

A promotional poster for 'Black Sails' (via IMDb)

With a unique story revolving around pirates, Black Sails had the potential to go on for many more seasons. Therefore, when Starz announced its cancellation in 2016, it took many by surprise.

A historical adventure series set in the early 18th century, the story is an imagined prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel, Treasure Island, and is led by the character of Captain Flint. Together with his crew, the pirate captain fights for survival on New Providence Island around 20 years before the events of the book.

Speaking about Black Sails season 4, Starz Managing Director Carmi Zlotnik said in 2016:

"Jon Steinberg and Robert Levine, along with their crew and the phenomenal cast, have delivered a spectacular take on the most legendary pirate story in literature, and this final season will bring us to the shores of Treasure Island as was always intended. Black Sails has been a tremendous success; from the loyal fan following and strong viewership numbers to awards recognition and the skill of our world-class production in Cape Town, we could not be more proud of this very special series."

Following its season four finale in 2017, Deadline published an interview with the creators of the show on April 2. During the conversation, co-creator Robert Levine revealed:

"You know, our goal with the ending was to get as close as possible to Treasure Island. It was to try to leave you in a place where you could finish the show and then start at page one of the book, and start reading it, and have it not only make sense in the narrative sense, but also be something of a new story for you. Because now you could fill in a lot between the lines in terms of the characters, and their relationships, and their histories."

Therefore, it can be understood that Starz made the decision to end Black Sails with its fourth season in order to connect the story seamlessly with the events of Treasure Island. Having told the story of Captain Flint and his treasure, the ending of the show effectively sets the stage for the novel.

Thus, Black Sails was put to an end because a fifth season was not necessary. Fans can watch the show and then enter the world of Treasure Island with the context of Flint's story.

How is Black Sails connected to Treasure Island?

In the novel by R.L. Stevenson, Captain Flint's hidden treasure is a major plot device that drives the story forward. The book features a boy called Jim Hawkins, a boy who joins an expedition to find the treasure. Along the way, he comes in conflict with Long John Silver, a pirate who is also looking for the same.

Many characters in the book are given life in the live-adaptation prequel, including Flint, John Silver, Billy Bones, and Ben Gunn. While Flint is long dead during the events of Treasure Island, the other characters feature prominently in the novel.

The story of Black Sails is not directly connected to the story of Treasure Island. However, the show provides crucial context and lays the groundwork for the sequence of events that follow in the book.

In 1924, a prequel to Treasure Island called Porto Bello Gold was written by A.D. Howden Smith. However, it has no connection to Black Sails.

The cast of Black Sails, explored

The cast of 'Black Sails' at the 2015 Winter TCA Tour (via Getty/Frederick M. Brown)

The majority of characters in Black Sails feature as pirates and sailors. While most are fictional, they also interact with some historical figures. Here's a list of actors who play a crucial role in the show:

Toby Stephens as Captain Flint
Luke Arnold as Long John Silver
Hannah New as Eleanor Guthrie
Jessica Parker Kennedy as Max
Tom Hopper as Billy Bones
Zach McGowan as Charles Vane
Toby Schmitz as “Calico Jack” Rackham
Clara Paget as Anne Bonny

Additionally, actors such as Louise Barnes, Rupert Penry-Jones, Luke Roberts, David Wilmot, and the late Ray Stevenson play prominent characters in the series.

All four seasons of Black Sails are currently available to stream on Netflix US, as well as on Starz, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.