David Oyelowo and Hayley Atwell / Misan Harriman / Faye Thomas
Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland and MGM+ in the US have ordered a new six-part adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson classic Treasure Island.
David Oyelowo will portray Long John Silver in the new version, with Hayley Atwell playing Bess Hawkins, the mother of teen Jim Hawkins, played by Tom Sweet.
Jack Huston will play a British agent called Aaron Graham, while Tomer Capone has been cast as Billy Bones, an old seaman whose treasure map starts the adventure.
A synopsis for the show reads: “Treasure Island is a bold, high-stakes coming-of-age adventure series for a new generation, charting the transformation of teenager Jim Hawkins from sheltered boy to emboldened young pirate. When Jim gets his hands on a legendary treasure map, his mother Bess’s clever and decisive actions leave him holding valuable knowledge that puts both of their lives in danger. Sailing aboard The Hispaniola, Jim and Bess are caught between the charming, terrifying pirate Long John Silver, and the debonair, duplicitous British agent Aaron Graham.
“Jim has to grow up fast as he and his mother fight for survival on a voyage where alliances shift, secrets multiply and peril closes in from all sides. Set across the Atlantic, in a Caribbean on the brink of revolution and on the terrifying Skeleton Island, the series tracks Jim as he confronts a world far more complex and dangerous than he ever imagined, where resilience, loyalty and identity are tested – and fortune is the prize.”
Sebastian Cardwell, Paramount’s deputy chief content officer in the UK, said: “Treasure Island is a bold and atmospheric reimagining of a story that has captivated audiences for generations. This adaptation brings fresh emotional depth and a striking contemporary edge to Stevenson’s classic. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Playground and MGM+ to bring this richly cinematic adventure to audiences in the UK and Ireland, the US and beyond.”
Production on the show began this week ahead of an anticipated release date at some point in 2027.
