Pirate season is back. This Sunday, October 11, MGM+ launches Treasure Island, a six-part series that reimagines Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 adventure for a new generation. Viewers in the UK and Ireland get it one day later, on October 12, via Paramount+.
A mother joins the hunt
The biggest change from the novel is right at the center of the story. Young Jim Hawkins, played by Tom Sweet (Great Expectations), no longer sets out alone. His fiercely determined mother, Bess Hawkins, played by Hayley Atwell, is preparing to marry for her family’s sake when Captain Flint’s legendary map falls into their hands. From that moment, mother and son are pulled into a brutal race for unimaginable riches, full of danger and betrayal.
The map also ties them to the most famous cook on the high seas. David Oyelowo (Selma, Silo) takes on Long John Silver, the charming, slippery pirate who has fascinated readers for well over a century. Jack Huston plays Aaron Graham, a British agent whose loyalties are far from clear, and Tomer Capone (The Boys) is Billy Bones. Craige Els, Tristan Sturrock and Neil Pendleton round out the crew as Mr. Arrow, Captain Smollett and Mr. Cameron.
Behind the camera
The series was created by Robert Murphy and produced by Playground Entertainment, with Fifth Season handling distribution in other territories. Directing duties are split between Jeremy Lovering (Slow Horses), William McGregor (The Buccaneers) and Paul Walker (Shameless). The recent trailer promises a grittier tone than most family versions, while keeping the sweeping, sun-drenched adventure feel that made the book a classic.
When to watch
New episodes arrive weekly every Sunday on MGM+, with the finale landing on November 15 (November 16 in the UK and Ireland). With six episodes, it is a compact voyage, and with Atwell and Oyelowo trading wits over a single map, it may be the most crowd-pleasing new drama of the weekend.