Ridley Scott is attached to direct a new film adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island, with Hugh Jackman set to play the legendary pirate Long John Silver. The screenplay is written by Adolescence creator Jack Thorne, who will also executive produce, while Scott and Michael Pruss are producing for Scott Free.
The package is expected to hit the market this week and is anticipated to draw interest from major studios. According to sources, 20th Century — the studio behind Scott’s upcoming film The Dog Stars — received a first look but passed on the project. The decision reportedly stemmed from Disney’s existing priority on its Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, making it unlikely to pursue another high-profile pirate adventure title in its live-action division. The Dog Stars, based on Peter Heller’s post-apocalyptic novel, is scheduled for release in August.
Stevenson’s Treasure Island, first published in 1883, remains one of the most influential adventure novels ever written. The story follows a young boy who discovers a map to buried treasure and joins a dangerous sea voyage in search of fortune, only to become entangled in a tense struggle with the charming but treacherous Long John Silver. The book has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 50 languages, underscoring its long-standing global appeal.
The property has been adapted before, including Disney’s animated 2002 film Treasure Planet, directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. That version relocated the story into a science-fiction setting and featured the voices of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brian Murray, Martin Short and Emma Thompson.
The new Treasure Island package combines a major filmmaker, a major star and one of the most recognizable literary adventure properties in publishing history, positioning it as a potentially high-profile studio race once it officially goes out to buyers.
