Ridley Scott is reported to be developing a new screen version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, with Hugh Jackman in talks to portray the notorious pirate Long John Silver. The package, assembled with a high-profile creative team, is expected to be shopped to major studios this week — a development that could reshape studios’ summer and franchise plans.
Insiders describe the project as a fresh reinterpretation of Stevenson’s 1883 adventure, pairing Scott’s veteran directing and producing experience with a script written by playwright-screenwriter Jack Thorne, who will also serve as an executive producer.
Sources say the package will reach the market on Monday and that every big studio is likely to consider it. 20th Century — a frequent collaborator with Scott — was given an early look but declined to proceed, not over creative differences but because of corporate priorities: as a Disney unit, 20th Century is steering clear of competing pirate-themed films while Disney’s own live-action efforts tied to Pirates of the Caribbean remain a priority.
Why this matters now: the combination of an enduring literary property, a director with a strong commercial track record, and a bankable leading actor makes the package attractive to studios and streamers alike. It also raises immediate questions about positioning, franchise potential and box-office timing.
- Talent attached: Ridley Scott (director/producer), Hugh Jackman (attached for Long John Silver), Jack Thorne (writer and executive producer), Michael Pruss (producer).
- Market status: Package slated to be shopped this week; 20th Century had a first look but passed due to Disney’s internal pirate priorities.
- Source material: Stevenson’s novel, which has sold well over 100 million copies worldwide and spawned numerous adaptations, remains a high-value, recognizable IP.
- Previous notable take: Disney’s 2002 animated feature Treasure Planet reimagined the tale in a sci-fi setting and demonstrated the story’s adaptability.
- Representation: Jackman (WME; Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern), Scott (CAA), Thorne (UTA; Casarotto Ramsay & Associates; Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern).
The novel’s core premise — a young protagonist discovering a treasure map and confronting the charismatic but treacherous Long John Silver — continues to offer fertile ground for reinterpretation. Executives say this new package is not merely a faithful retelling but aims to place Stevenson’s narrative in a cinematic context that can justify major investment.
Scott, whose next film The Dog Stars is due later this year, brings both prestige and the kind of production scale studios look for when considering tentpole material. Jackman’s casting would add star appeal and franchise potential, should studios choose to pursue sequels or expanded world-building.
Industry watchers note practical considerations that will shape how quickly the film moves forward: competing releases, studio slate calendars, budget appetite for period/adventure shoots at sea, and the availability of the attached talent. Disney’s strategic avoidance of overlapping pirate projects is one early example of those constraints in action.
For readers tracking studio deals and blockbuster prospects, this package highlights how legacy literary titles continue to drive bidding wars and strategic positioning among Hollywood’s largest players.
We will monitor studio responses and keep reporting as offers are made and deals develop.
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Hello, I’m Declan. I share my film reviews and discoveries with you to enrich your moviegoing experience.