Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island returns to the small screen with a new television adaptation. The series, titled Treasure Island, reimagines the famous adventure novel in six episodes. Paramount+ and MGM+ have released the first images of the series, showing the leads portrayed by David Oyelowo, Hayley Atwell, Tom Sweet, Jack Huston, and Tomer Capone as they take on the adventure and the world of piracy. The premiere is scheduled, also in Italy, on the MGM+ platform (a channel available with a separate Prime Video subscription) on October 11.
The plot of the Treasure Island series
Treasure Island reinterprets the novel as we know it through a story that centers not only on the young Jim Hawkins, but also on his relationship with his mother Bess and their involvement in the quest for a legendary treasure. Jim Hawkins is a teenager raised in a sheltered and nearly isolated world. His life changes dramatically when he comes into possession of the legendary map that leads to Captain Flint’s treasure. The adventure also involves his mother Bess Hawkins, a determined and resolute woman portrayed by Hayley Atwell.
Facing the threat posed by the map and the consequences of its discovery, Bess shares with her son a precious understanding of the world around them. Mother and son are thus dragged into a ruthless race for wealth beyond imagining, in a journey that will compel Jim to leave behind his protected adolescence. The boy will have to learn to survive in a world dominated by pirates, betrayals, and dangers, gradually transforming into a young man capable of facing danger with courage.
The series arrives before Ridley Scott’s film
The new series, created by Robert Murphy, arrives at a particularly curious moment for Stevenson’s classic: even before the TV project reaches the screen, cinema is also preparing to return to Treasure Island with Ridley Scott. The director is developing a fresh cinematic adaptation of the same novel, with Hugh Jackman chosen to star as Long John Silver and a screenplay by Jack Thorne, author of Adolescence. Filming on the movie is expected to begin on November 1, 2026, while no release date has been announced. The series, at least in terms of release timing, outpaces the film.
The cast
In the lead role of Jim Hawkins in the series, Tom Sweet is cast, the young actor who has previously appeared in Great Expectations. He is joined by Hayley Atwell, who portrays Bess Hawkins, Jim’s mother, while David Oyelowo (as Silo) embodies one of Stevenson’s most iconic figures: the pirate Long John Silver. The ensemble also includes Jack Huston (as Aaron Graham) and Tomer Capone, star of The Boys, who plays Billy Bones. The series additionally features Craige Els as Mr. Arrow, Tristan Sturrock as Captain Smollett, and Neil Pendleton as Mr. Cameron. The episodes were directed by Jeremy Lovering, William McGregor, and Paul Walker.
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