Pirates have been a popular theme for entertainment for over a century. Right now, however, they are apparently hot. All three Pirates of the Caribbean movies were wildly popular. Over the weekend we saw a new interpretation of pirates in Syfy’s Treasure Island. Aardman Animations’ The Pirates was doing handily at the box office before the awesome Avengers bulldozer came rolling up the box office street.

Now Deadline reports that subscription channel Starz, home of Spartacus amongst other epic series, has given the green light to a Treasure Island prequel about life with Captain Flint and a young “fast talking” Long John Silver, set 20 years before the events at the beginning of Treasure Island. Created by Jon Steinberg and Robert Levine, attached to it as Executive Producer is Michael Bay (the Transformers movie franchise). The tentative title is Black Sails, and will have an 8-episode season.

Given that it’s Starz and Michael Bay, we’re thinking/hoping edgy and gritty with maybe some snappy dialogue, a la Syfy‘s Treasure Island. If so, we’re in. We’ll keep you posted.