Popverse's top stories of the day

• How Disney+'s What If...? is the moonshot for the next 50 years of Marvel Studios & the MCU
• Watch: Dune: Prophecy's Desmond Hart explained: His secret identity, his past, and his possible future [SPOILERS]
• Dune: Prophecy's Desmond Hart explained: His secret identity, his past, and his possible future [SPOILERS]

The shenanigans of the Our Flag Means Death cast & crew is just as enticing as the show itself, so that's why the idea that there was almost an official OFMD podcast (until there wasn't) is a bit of a tear-jerker. But that's what happened according to Roach actor Samba Schutte, as revealed during a panel at Florida Supercon 2024.

Schutte and co-star Vico Ortiz were at our Miami Beach event Florida Supercon, and the topic came around to a previously-unknown companion podcast brought about by fans' interest in their behind-the-scenes frivolity from season 1..

“During season 1, I was so excited to be on the show. I'm like, 'I'm gonna record everything and take photos,'" says Schutt. "When I released it after season 1 aired, I didn't expect the fans to just take the BTS and then create art out of it.”

Encouraged by the fan response, Schutte was inspired to build something bigger. 

“When I saw the responses, like in season two, I pitched to [Warner Bros. Discovery].. I was like, 'Can I do the official podcast? Can I do the official BTS?' And they're like, 'Yes!" says Schutte. "And then we got to New Zealand and were like, ‘We're broke!'”

Schutte was disheartened, but he wasn’t going to let Max’s accountants stop him. Even if he couldn’t produce a podcast, he could still share behind-the-scenes footage for the fans. 

“I was like, 'I'm still gonna film and I'm still gonna do the thing. And so, I had all this footage. I think I had 4,000 files on my photo album. And I'm like, 'I'm gonna release this very nice and slow.'”

Samba Schutte released a series of photos and videos on his social media channels. He called the project Behind the Flag. 

“It was just fun to get insight for how the show is made, but also to celebrate all our amazing departments from costumes, to make-up, to props, and everything. It took a whole village to make the show. And I'm so glad that I got to share the BTS because you guys,” Schutte says.

“I'm really sad about the podcast though. I was really excited about that,” Vico Ortiz said. “It would've been fun,” Schutte wistfully replied.

Maybe, but I think we got something even better. It wasn’t an official podcast from Max, but that’s what made it special. Schutte’s behind-the-scenes content was a passion project done from his heart, and it wasn’t put through any corporate or public relations filters. It was a love letter to the fans, without any of the corporate bigwigs involved. 

Why that Our Flag Means Death season 2 finale was the riskiest thing the show could have done.