Rights holder / Distributor: MGM+ / Paramount+
Treasure Island (Treasure Island) is a 2026 American-British adventure drama television series created by Robert Murphy based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. The series is directed by Jeremy Lovering, William McGregor, and Paul Walker. It premiered in the United States on October 11, 2026, on MGM+.
Treasure Island follows Jim Hawkins and his mother Bess, who acquire a legendary treasure map. This puts them in danger and leads them aboard the Hispaniola, where Jim meets the pirate Long John Silver and his crew. Parallel to their search for the treasure, British agent Aaron Graham is also pursuing him.
The journey becomes a test for Jim, who is confronted by adult characters with different goals and motives. Long John Silver is portrayed as a charismatic but dangerous pirate, while Aaron Graham is a sophisticated British agent with unclear intentions. A conflict of interest develops between them, in which Jim and Bess must be careful who they trust.
The television adaptation was created by Robert Murphy, known for his work on British TV series Faith and Shetland. The directing is divided between Jeremy Lovering, William McGregor and Paul Walker, which form the six-part production. The series is produced by Playground in association with FIFTH SEASON for MGM+ and Paramount+.
One of the interesting features of the new version is the emphasis on the growth of Jim Hawkins. The story is described by the creators as an adventure thriller about the maturation of a boy who begins as a sheltered teenager and is gradually forced to make independent decisions. The sea voyage and constantly changing alliances allow the classic story to be presented through a more modern dramatic perspective.
Tom Sweet plays the lead role of Jim Hawkins, around whom the main storyline is built. Hayley Atwell plays Bess Hawkins, Jim's mother, who takes a much more active place in the story. David Oyelowo is Long John Silver – one of the most recognizable characters in the original novel, here presented as a charismatic and complex figure.
The cast also includes: Jack Houston like Aaron Graham, Tomer Capone like Billy Bones, Craig Els like Mr. Arrow, Tristan Sturlock like Captain Smollett and Neil Pendleton as Mr. Cameron. Huston's role is particularly interesting, as Aaron Graham is a character added to this television version of the story. Thus, the series is not limited to the relationships known from the novel.
Treasure Island returns to one of the most familiar adventure stories in literature, but places a stronger emphasis on the relationship between Jim and his mother and on the young hero's growth. The sea voyage, the treasure map, and the presence of Long John Silver maintain the foundation familiar from Stevenson's novel. The new character Aaron Graham expands the world of the story and adds another side to the fight for the treasure.
The six episodes allow for Treasure Island to develop the relationships between the characters in more detail, rather than relying solely on the adventure side. The participation of David Oyelowo, Hayley Atwell and Jack Huston is among the main highlights, while the young Tom Sweet takes the central role of Jim. For fans of classic films and series based on literary works, this is a new reading that retains the familiar core, but adds its own plot elements.
