The hottest package in Hollywood just hit the market, and it’s a high-seas heist that Disney was reportedly too afraid to touch. Real talk: when you hear "pirate movie," your brain probably goes straight to Johnny Depp’s eyeliner or a singing frog. But the upcoming Hugh Jackman Treasure Island movie is aiming for something much closer to Master and Commander than the Magic Kingdom. With Ridley Scott set to direct and a script from the man who made Harry Potter and the Cursed Child a global phenomenon, we are looking at a massive shift in how the industry handles 19th-century IP.
The project, which officially hit the market on July 8, 2024, features Hugh Jackman as the legendary Long John Silver. It’s a "brand new take" on the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, and while 20th Century Studios had the first look, they ultimately passed. Why? Because they are owned by Disney, and the Mouse House is reportedly so protective of its Pirates of the Caribbean franchise that it didn't want a competing nautical adventure on the roster. Their loss is about to be a massive gain for whichever streamer or studio wins the inevitable bidding war.
Who is in the new Treasure Island movie cast?
- Long John Silver: Hugh Jackman
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Screenwriter: Jack Thorne
- Jim Hawkins: Currently uncast
While Jackman is the only star officially attached, the hunt for a young actor to play the lead role of Jim Hawkins is expected to be one of the most watched casting calls of 2025.
The Casting of a Legend: Hugh Jackman as Long John Silver
Let’s be honest: Hugh Jackman playing a buccaneer is a massive flex. At 57, Jackman is at the perfect age to play a grizzled, manipulative sea dog. While we’ve seen him as a pirate before—playing a theatrical version of Blackbeard in 2015’s Pan—this role feels different. Long John Silver Hugh Jackman isn't going to be a cartoon; he’s going to be a threat.
There’s already a lot of chatter among casting directors regarding the Hugh Jackman physical transformation for roles. Historically, Silver is often depicted as a "big" man—think Robert Newton in the 1950 Disney live-action version or Tim Curry in Muppet Treasure Island. Jackman, however, is famously lean and shredded. To truly embody the "sea cook," we might see Jackman bulk up in a way that emphasizes power over aesthetics, or perhaps use prosthetics to give him that weathered, lived-in look of an 18th-century sailor who has survived a dozen mutinies.
The Long John Silver character analysis is complex. He’s not a one-note villain; he’s a mentor figure to Jim Hawkins who just happens to be willing to murder everyone for a bag of gold. Jackman’s ability to play "charismatic but dangerous" (look at his work in The Prestige or Prisoners) is exactly why Ridley Scott tapped him for this. He needs to make the audience—and Jim—want to trust him, even when we know better.
Ridley Scott’s Vision: A Gritty Nautical Adventure
When Ridley Scott attaches himself to a period piece, you know the production value is going to be insane. This is the man who gave us Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven. This isn't just another sea voyage; it’s a Ridley Scott Treasure Island, which implies a level of historical grit we haven't seen in the pirate genre for years.
The involvement of Ridley Scott Scott Free productions and producer Michael Pruss suggests a massive scale. Industry analysts are already comparing the potential tone to gritty pirate movies like Master and Commander. We’re talking about the smell of salt, the creak of wood, and the actual terror of being stuck on a boat with a mutinous crew. Scott has a history of delivering high-performing period epics at the box office, and with the success of Gladiator II looming, his leverage in Hollywood has never been higher.
The technical challenges of filming a modern nautical epic are no joke. While Pirates of the Caribbean relied heavily on CGI for its supernatural elements, Scott is known for blending practical sets with seamless digital extensions. Expect a massive buried treasure hunt that feels tangible, dangerous, and expensive. The estimated budget for a package like this—with two A-list names attached—is likely north of $150 million, making it a "must-win" for platforms like Apple TV+ or Netflix who are hungry for prestige blockbusters.
The Jack Thorne Factor: Why the Script Will Be Different
The secret weapon here is the Jack Thorne Treasure Island script. Thorne is currently one of the most respected writers in the industry, fresh off the success of the "gritty" Netflix series Adolescence. If you’ve seen his work on His Dark Materials, you know he doesn’t shy away from the darker elements of coming-of-age stories.
Thorne’s involvement suggests this Treasure Island movie 2026 will lean heavily into the psychological battle between Jim and Silver. In the original Robert Louis Stevenson novel, Jim Hawkins is essentially being groomed by a criminal. Thorne is likely to explore that "adolescence" through a much harsher lens. This isn't a whimsical trip to an island; it’s a survival horror story where the monster is a man with a peg leg.
There’s also the question of the rating. While Disney usually sticks to PG-13 for its pirate iconography, a Ridley Scott and Jack Thorne collaboration could easily push into R-rated territory, similar to the tone of the Starz series Black Sails. If they go that route, it would be the first major Treasure Island adaptation to truly show the brutality of the buccaneer lifestyle.
The Disney Dilemma: Why 20th Century Passed
The most interesting industry tea here is the 20th Century Studios rejection. Usually, Ridley Scott has a "first look" deal with 20th Century (they are releasing his next film, The Dog Stars, starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin). However, because 20th Century is now a division of Disney, the project hit a wall.
Disney is currently in a weird spot with its own pirate IP. They are trying to figure out how to reboot Pirates of the Caribbean without Johnny Depp, and they reportedly viewed a high-end, serious Treasure Island as "brand confusion." It’s a classic corporate move: kill the competition before it starts. But by letting the package go to the open market, Disney has essentially invited a rival like Netflix or Amazon to build their own "Pirates" killer.
This also raises questions about the MGM+ Treasure Island series currently in development starring David Oyelowo. Can the market support two major adaptations? Probably, especially if Scott’s version is a cinematic event while the MGM+ version focuses on a serialized, TV-pacing narrative.
The Legacy of the IP: From 1883 to 2026
It’s hard to overstate how much Treasure Island shaped our culture. Since 1883, the book has sold over 100 million copies. Nearly every pirate trope we know—X marks the spot, parrots on shoulders, the "pirate accent"—comes from this one book and its subsequent film adaptations.
A literary scholar would tell you that Treasure Island is the ultimate "unreliable narrator" story. Jim Hawkins is writing his memoirs, and he’s clearly traumatized by Silver. Most movies ignore this, treating Silver as a fun anti-hero. But with the Adolescence writer Jack Thorne on board, we might finally get an adaptation that acknowledges the trauma of the sea voyage.
Recent Robert Louis Stevenson Adaptation Success:
- Treasure Planet (2002): $110 million box office (cult classic, but a financial struggle at the time).
- Black Sails (2014-2017): Critically acclaimed prequel series that proved there is a massive adult audience for gritty pirate content.
- Skeleton Crew (2024): A Star Wars series that uses the "kids in space/pirates" theme, proving the IP's DNA is still everywhere.
Ridley Scott’s Filmography 2025-2026: A Packed Schedule
The wild part is how Ridley Scott finds the time. At 86, he is working harder than people half his age. Before he even touches the Hugh Jackman Treasure Island movie, he has a massive slate to clear:
- Gladiator II: The massive sequel hitting theaters in late 2024.
- The Dog Stars: A post-apocalyptic thriller with Jacob Elordi, based on the Peter Heller novel, set for August 2025.
- The Bee Gees Biopic: A high-profile musical project he's been circling.
Given this timeline, 2026 is the earliest we would likely see Treasure Island begin principal photography. This gives the production team plenty of time to scout Treasure Island filming locations. We could see them heading to Malta (where Scott filmed Gladiator II) or the Caribbean to capture that authentic tropical heat.
Key Takeaways
- The Duo: Hugh Jackman and Ridley Scott are teaming up for a "brand new take" on Treasure Island.
- The Role: Jackman will play Long John Silver, a role previously defined by Robert Newton and Tim Curry.
- The Script: Jack Thorne (Adolescence, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) is writing, suggesting a darker, more psychological tone.
- The Studio Drama: Disney-owned 20th Century Studios passed on the project to avoid competing with Pirates of the Caribbean.
- The Vibe: Expect a gritty, high-budget nautical adventure in the vein of Master and Commander rather than a family-friendly Disney romp.
- The Timeline: With Scott's busy schedule, production likely won't start until 2026.
The Future of the High Seas
Is the world ready for another pirate epic? If it’s just more of the same, maybe not. But the combination of Ridley Scott’s eye for historical scale and Jack Thorne’s ability to write complex, damaged characters suggests this isn't just a remake—it’s a reclamation of the genre. By moving away from the "Disney-fied" version of piracy and back toward the dangerous, cutthroat world Robert Louis Stevenson actually wrote about, this film could do for pirates what Gladiator did for sword-and-sandal epics.
The bidding war is currently underway. Whether it lands at a traditional studio or a deep-pocketed streamer, one thing is certain: Hugh Jackman’s Long John Silver is going to be the performance to beat in 2026. Keep your eyes on the horizon.
