David Oyelowo is to play Long John Silver in a new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island set to stream on Paramount+ in the UK & Ireland and on MGM+ in the US.
Other confirmed cast members include Hayley Atwell as Bess Hawkins, Jack Huston as Aaron Graham, Tomer Caponeas Billy Bones, and Tom Sweet as Jim Hawkins.
Production is underway on the series which hails from Playground with international distribution handled by Fifth Season.
Synopsis:
When Jim Hawkins 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 for 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.”
Playground’s joint Managing Directors David Stern and Scott Huff said: “Treasure Island is an epic, high-stakes adventure with timeless themes of conquest, greed, and coming of age.
“Robert Murphy has written something that is, in equal measure, surprising, entertaining, and true to the original novel.
“The extraordinary cast and crew who have joined us are a testament to his brilliant scripts and to the powerful hold the original story has had on generations of readers. We’re incredibly grateful to our partners at MGM+, Paramount+, and Fifth Season for their support of our vision for the series.