Ridley Scott & Hugh Jackman Team Up: Classic 143-Year-Old Novel Gets Action-Packed Adaptation!

Hugh Jackman and Ridley Scott are joining forces for an epic adventure.

According to Deadline, Scott is working on bringing the 143-year-old classic Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson to life, with Jackman slated to portray the legendary character Long John Silver. Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne is involved as the screenwriter and will also co-produce the film with Scott and Michael Pruss. Currently, no production studio is linked to Treasure Island, as 20th Century Studios has declined the project.

Given that the Disney-owned 20th Century Studios already manages the Pirates of the Caribbean series, the executives opted not to proceed with another similar franchise, despite having produced adaptations of this novel before. However, it’s anticipated that other major studios might show interest in this project.

Scott’s rendition of the classic pirate tale will revolve around Jim Hawkins, who stumbles upon a map leading to hidden treasure. Embarking on a journey for the treasure, he faces obstacles from pirates, including the notorious Long John Silver.

First published in 1883, Treasure Island quickly became a bestseller and a staple in literary circles. The story has seen numerous adaptations through the years, including a 1950 Disney movie, a 1973 animated film by Warner Bros., the 1996 Muppet Treasure Island, and the 2002 animated science fiction version Treasure Planet. On television, TNT released a version in 1990, and Sky1 in the UK aired a miniseries. The 2014-2017 TV series Black Sails on Starz, produced by Michael Bay, serves as a prequel to Treasure Island.

Jackman, widely recognized for his roles in the X-Men series, Deadpool & Wolverine, Les Misérables, Real Steel, Australia, and The Greatest Showman, as well as his performances in stage productions like Sunset Boulevard, Oklahoma!, Carousel, The Boy from Oz, and The Music Man, has recently appeared in the musical biopic Song Sung Blue alongside Kate Hudson and the comedy The Sheep Detectives. He will next be seen in the thriller The Death of Robin Hood, set for release on June 19.

Scott, an award-winning director known for iconic films such as Thelma & Louise, Alien, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Blade Runner, and The Martian, is gearing up for the release of his post-apocalyptic movie The Dog Stars, starring Jacob Elordi, scheduled for theaters on August 28.

Now, for the first time, Jackman and Scott are collaborating on this fresh adaptation of Treasure Island. With the project still in its early developmental phase, additional casting details and a release date remain forthcoming.