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Paramount+ greenlights beloved classic ‘Treasure Island’ with David Oyelowo and a surprise Marvel star

The coming-of-age adventure series will see David Oyelowo step into the shoes of a terrifying pirate, Long John Silver

On March 3, MGM+ in the United States and Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland published a press release, announcing that a new original adventure drama titled ‘Treasure Island’ is officially on the way. The series consists of six episodes, and yes, a cast that could probably command a ship without a script. This reimagining of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale doesn’t plan to play it safe or sit politely in the corner of literary nostalgia. Instead, it grabs the old pirate yarn by the collar and shakes it awake. Leading the charge is David Oyelowo (‘Silo’) as Long John Silver, and that casting alone sets the tone for the series. Silver is magnetic and menacing, charming one second and as cold as the deep sea the next.

Opposite him stands Hayley Atwell (‘Marvel’s Agent Carter’) as Bess Hawkins, Jim’s mother, who in this version is far from a background figure. She’s a clever woman who makes a split-second choice and changes the entire direction of the story. When a legendary treasure map lands in young Jim’s possession, it’s Bess’ sharp instincts that put the wheels in motion and place targets on their backs. Jim Hawkins, portrayed by Tom Sweet (‘Great Expectations’), begins as a sheltered teenager who likely hasn’t imagined life beyond familiar shores. However, that changes fast. The map he ends up holding is less a piece of parchment and more a lit fuse.

Suddenly, he and his mother are thrust onto The Hispaniola, caught in a tense tug-of-war between Silver and a polished but slippery British agent named Aaron Graham, played by Jack Huston. And then there’s Billy Bones, brought to life by Tomer Capone (‘The Boys’). Every corner of the ship seems to hold secrets, and every alliance feels temporary as trust becomes a rare commodity. The series stretches across the Atlantic, brushes up against a Caribbean simmering on the edge of revolution, and finally lands on the dreaded Skeleton Island. The journey pushes Jim into situations that demand quick thinking and a stomach for risk. He grows up because he has to, with no choice and no safety net. Behind the camera, the creative team is just as stacked.

The show was developed for television by Robert Murphy, whose previous credits include the long-running crime dramas ‘Vera’ and ‘Shetland.’ Direction is shared among Jeremy Lovering, William McGregor, and Paul Walker. Mark Hedges serves as producer, steering the ship behind the scenes. Production comes from Playground, in association with FIFTH SEASON, which will also handle global distribution outside the U.S., UK, and Ireland. The premiere date hasn’t been set yet, but when it arrives, viewers in the U.S. will find it on MGM+, while audiences in the UK and Ireland can stream it on Paramount+.