Director Ridley Scott and Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman have been announced to make a new adaptation of the adventure classic Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson from a script by Jack Thorne (Adolescence).
According to Deadline, Scott’s Treasure Island will see Jack in the role of the villainous Long John Silver who serves as the ship’s cook in disguise while plotting to claim the treasure young Jim Hawkins and the crew seeks for himself.
Scott reportedly took the film to 20th Century Studios as part of their overall deal, but the studio passed on it due to Disney’s previous adaptations, and its unwillingness to produce a competing pirate film while they attempt to revive the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise for a sixth installment. The trio are currently taking it to other studios in what is expected to be a costly bidding war. Scott and Michael Pruss will produce for Scott Free Productions while Thorne will executive produce.
Published in 1883, Treasure Island follows Jim Hawkins as he uncovers a map to the legendary lost treasure of the dreaded pirate Captain Flint. An expedition to the island the treasure is located is put together with Long John Silver posing as the ship’s cook and planning a mutiny among his loyal pirates. During the voyage Hawkins formed a strong friendship with Silver and is forced to choose between Silver and the ship’s honourable Captain Smollett.
Countless adaptations of Treasure Island have been made from the stage to film to TV. Beloved adaptations include the parody Muppet Treasure Island which saw Tim Curry in a fan-favourite portrayal as Silver along with Disney’s live-action 1950 feature film starring Robert Newton, and its 2002 animated sci-fi interpretation Treasure Planet.
Jackman will be seen next in the gritty The Death of Robin Hood while Scott’s next film The Dog Stars starring Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce is set for release on August 28th [watch the latest trailer here].
