The finest stories are those that stand the test of time—tales that can be retold repeatedly in any medium or setting. They’re frequently familiar, formulaic narratives (like or ), yet that doesn’t diminish their power when placed in Regency-era England or a world of garden gnomes.
One such enduring story has been adapted countless times, with the most well-known versions often straying farthest from the original. Now, though, it’s getting a faithful adaptation featuring A-list actors.
Per , Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 pirate novel Treasure Island is being turned into a new series with David Oyelowo, Hayley Atwell, and Jack Huston in lead roles. The show is a joint project from MGM+ and Paramount+, with Paramount holding rights only for the UK and Ireland. For American audiences, that likely means tuning into the (often overlooked) MGM+ streamer to watch once it premieres.
Treasure Island has been adapted for screens almost since the invention of the movie camera. From a 1918 silent film to Walt Disney’s first live-action feature in 1950 and a 1951 BBC TV version, there are more adaptations across film, TV, and theater than you can count with a peg leg.
In recent years, though, the most prominent adaptations have leaned heavily into sci-fi or fantasy — and all were from Disney. In 1996, the Jim Henson Company followed its hit A Muppet Christmas Carol with Muppet Treasure Island, featuring Tim Curry as Long John Silver and current Gorillaz voice actor Kevin Bishop as young Jim Hawkins. Disney’s 2002 release Treasure Planet reimagined the story as a sci-fi space adventure using a mix of 2D and 3D animation. Most recently, in 2024, Disney+ debuted , a Star Wars series with Jude Law that drew heavily from Treasure Island’s plot points.
This faithful adaptation can return the story to its origins, delivering a pure narrative of pirate action and hidden treasure. While Treasure Island was originally written for children, it’s a timeless coming-of-age story about a young boy venturing into the vast world to discover his purpose. That’s a tale that doesn’t require droids, space, or singing frogs to be engaging — it already has all the necessary charm.
American audiences haven’t seen a straightforward Treasure Island adaptation in ages — the last one was likely a 1999 film with Jack Palance. This series will test whether there’s still an audience for the story without any gimmicks.