Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

HBO’s Bradley Cooper-produced ‘Black Flags’ explores the rise of Islamic State

To many, the Islamic State seemed to appear in the public eye out of nowhere in the recent past, leaving questions as to just how the terrorist organization amassed so much destructive power in only a handful of years. Those answers will be found in HBO’s upcoming miniseries Black Flags, to be produced by Bradley Cooper and Todd Phillips, Deadline reports.

The miniseries will be an adaptation of Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS, a nonfiction book by Joby Warrick. The 2016 Pulitzer Prize winner explores the group’s beginnings, starting in a prison in Jordan, and its evolution into a global threat. Warrick also delves into counterterrorist efforts, including the American and international operatives at the forefront of the battle against Islamic State.

Recommended Videos

The origins of the miniseries, on the other hand, trace back to Cooper. The actor read Warrick’s book and reportedly knew right away that he wanted to bring it to the small screen as a limited series. Cooper and Phillips, both of whom are executive producing, went so far as to fly to the author’s hometown to convince him in person to collaborate on the project.

Warrick wasn’t the only one intrigued by their ideas. Gregg Hurwitz, who has written comic books, crime novels, and penned numerous screenplay adaptations, also signed on for the miniseries; he is set to write the screenplay as well as executive produce. Meanwhile, director Tim Van Patten, who has worked on HBO hits like Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire, will also executive produce, on top of helming the project.

It is unclear how soon the miniseries could arrive on the premium network, but given the havoc Islamic State has wreaked just in the past several months, it seems safe to assume that the focus of Black Flags will still be very much in the public consciousness.

Stephanie Topacio Long
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
3 great Hulu movies you need to stream this weekend (May 16 – 18)
Rebecca Ferguson and Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.

Next weekend, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is probably going to be the action movie of the summer. So there's no better time than to revisit the first five films in the franchise on Hulu. But only one of those flicks is among the three great Hulu movies that you need to stream this weekend.

This week's other selections include a dark drama/thriller as well as a recently premiered Hulu original comedy movie. With selections like these, you can put off going to a movie theater for at least another weekend.

Read more
3 underrated HBO Max movies you should watch this weekend (May 16-18)
Kya Clark sits against a tree in Where the Crawdads Sing.

Did you see the latest trailer for Superman? The new footage hammered down the emotional dilemma Superman faces as he tries to find his place in the world. Fans of James Gunn will know the filmmaker has a knack for telling impassioned stories, i.e., the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. Gunn clearly wants to make an emotional superhero epic. We'll find out if that happens on July 11.

Superman will likely stream on HBO Max by the end of 2025. For now, try streaming some under-the-radar movies this weekend. Our suggestions include a South Park documentary, a wild neo-noir, and a mystery romance.

Read more
3 underrated Netflix shows you should watch this weekend (May 16-18)
The Haunting of Bly Manor

Netflix has revolutionized the way we watch television, and while the streaming era has come with plenty of pros, it's also come with a few negatives. One of those negatives is choosing what to watch may not be as simple as turning on your TV. Now, there's a mountain of options to select from, and you're tasked with picking the thing you'd best like.

If that task feels overwhelming, then we've got you covered. We've selected three very different shows that you can stream on Netflix, each of which is well worth your time.

Read more