Treasure Island Reimagined for Streaming
Robert Louis Stevenson's *Treasure Island* is being reimagined as a TV series for Paramount+ and MGM+, with David Oyelowo starring as Long John Silver. The adaptation aims to deliver a modern, multi-layered take blending period drama with contemporary themes, and will incorporate mystery, thriller, and adventure elements.
The new six-part series is penned by Robert Murphy, known for his work on the popular British crime dramas *Vera* and *Shetland*. The directing team includes Jeremy Lovering, who has directed episodes of the acclaimed spy thriller *Slow Horses*, and William McGregor, who has directed for the fantasy series *His Dark Materials*. Paul Walker, with credits on *Shameless* and *Riviera*, also directs. Joining David Oyelowo is a notable cast, including Hayley Atwell (*Agent Carter*) as Bess Hawkins and Jack Huston (*Boardwalk Empire*) as Aaron Graham. Tomer Capone from *The Boys* will play Billy Bones, with Tom Sweet (*Great Expectations*) cast as the young protagonist, Jim Hawkins. This adaptation joins a long line of screen versions of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel. One of the most famous is Disney's 1950 live-action film, which was the studio's first completely live-action feature and was shot in color. This version starred Robert Newton as Long John Silver, an iconic portrayal that is often credited with shaping the popular image of pirates. Other significant adaptations include a 1990 television film starring Charlton Heston as Long John Silver and a young Christian Bale as Jim Hawkins. More recently, the Starz series *Black Sails* (2014-2017) served as a prequel to the novel, exploring the backstory of Captain Flint and John Silver. Disney also gave the story a science-fiction twist with the 2002 animated feature *Treasure Planet*.
