‘Treasure Island’ First Look Hayley Atwell And David Oyelowo Set Sail For MGM+ And Paramount+

Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventurous classic has inspired numerous adaptations over the years, yet streaming platforms have largely overlooked the pirate genre compared to other literary favorites. This fall, that gap is set to close significantly.

MGM+ and Paramount+ have been developing this fresh interpretation of ‘Treasure Island’ since the project was announced in March, assembling a cast filled with well-known names from both prestige television and blockbuster films. Production began shortly after the announcement, with the six-part series following the coming-of-age journey of teenager Jim Hawkins as he evolves from a sheltered boy into a daring young pirate.

Now, the first official images from the series have surfaced, offering fans their initial glimpse of Hayley Atwell, David Oyelowo, and Tom Sweet embarking on their high-seas adventure. The images feature Sweet as Jim Hawkins, Atwell as his mother Bess Hawkins, and Oyelowo portraying the legendary Long John Silver, complete with peg-leg and parrot.

Oyelowo takes on one of literature’s most iconic pirate villains, following his recent role in shows like ‘Silo.’ Atwell, widely recognized for her portrayal of Peggy Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, steps into the shoes of Bess Hawkins, whose clever and decisive actions early in the narrative leave her son with perilous knowledge about a fabled treasure map.

Joining the main cast are Jack Huston as the charming yet deceitful British agent Aaron Graham, and Tomer Capone, known for his role in ‘The Boys,’ portraying Billy Bones. According to the official synopsis, Jim and Bess find themselves caught between Silver’s blend of charm and menace and Graham’s more polished, treacherous scheming as they navigate aboard the ship Hispaniola.

The series was adapted for television by Robert Murphy, known for his work on ‘Vera’ and ‘Shetland,’ and is being directed by a talented team that includes Jeremy Lovering of ‘Slow Horses’ fame, along with William McGregor. Playground Entertainment is producing, with Fifth Season managing global distribution for the project.

Executives from both networks expressed their excitement when the series was greenlit. Paramount+’s Cardwell told Variety that this adaptation introduces fresh emotional depth and a striking contemporary twist to Stevenson’s classic, while MGM+’s Wright noted that the series embodies the network’s brand, centered around classic Hollywood storytelling reimagined for a modern audience.

‘Treasure Island’ is scheduled to premiere on MGM+ in the United States on October 11, followed by its Paramount+ debut in the UK and Ireland on October 12. New episodes will be released weekly, with the six-episode season concluding on November 15 in the US and November 16 in the UK and Ireland.

This release strategy mirrors how both platforms have approached other high-profile originals, allowing the adaptation to build momentum week after week instead of releasing the entire season at once. Given the impressive cast and the source material’s lasting popularity, both networks seem to be positioning this as a flagship offering for the fall.

With a focus on Bess Hawkins as a central character rather than a mere background figure, this adaptation aims to expand Stevenson’s original narrative instead of simply retelling it. This approach, combined with a genuinely impressive ensemble cast, suggests ‘Treasure Island’ is set to distinguish itself from the many adaptations that have come before it.

As October draws near, fans of both the source material and the talented cast will finally discover if this new journey across the Hispaniola lives up to the high expectations surrounding it.

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