Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby's period romantic comedy Our Flag Means Death won't be getting a third season.
The show's creator David Jenkins confirmed the show's fate on social media on Wednesday morning (NZ time), posting that making the show had "been a dream come true".
The series, which focused on Darby's unhappy aristocrat Stede Bonnet and Taika Waititi's pirate Blackbeard, had been shot on the West Coast of Auckland at Piha.
"We've spent two seasons in a bizarre, beautifully-rendered world populated by some of the greatest actors and creatives working. And the second season was made possible by the enthusiasm of one of the most likable fan communities in the history of this medium," Jenkins said.
"Your voices made a difference, your art made a difference, your viewership made a difference in securing more Our Flag. Getting to share this show with you and watching you make it yours has been a dream come true."
Our Flag Means Death gained a massive following online for its romance between Blackbeard and Bonnet, with fan fiction and fan art proliferating social media.
"The bad news is clear. Our Flag won't be returning for a third season. We've sailed at the pleasure of the fine people at Max, and it brought them no joy to see this journey come to a premature end," Jenkins said before paying tribute to the HBO Max creative team who had been "incredible champions" of his show.
Jenkins concluded by saying he was "very sad I won't set foot on the Revenge again with my friends, some of whom have become close to family".
Neither Darby nor Waititi have yet commented on the cancellation news.
Fans are responding to Jenkins' post to share commiserations.
"Is there ANYWAY we can help for a third season? I CANNOT accept this," one wrote.
"This cannot be real! I'm devastated. For all of you. For all of us. This is an absolute travesty," another wrote.
Some have already suggested creative ways for the story to continue.
"Can you film season 3 in Rhys's back garden or something and stream it on TikTok live?" one asked.
Our Flag Means Death screens on Neon in New Zealand.
