Hoist the Jolly Roger and break out the rum because Hugh Jackman is ready to set sail for Ridley Scott’s upcoming adaptation of Robert Lewis Stevenson’s Treasure Island! According to Deadline, Jackman will step into the boots of Long John Silver, one of the most iconic pirates in all of literature, for the upcoming film project.
Ridley Scott directs Treasure Island from a script by Adolescence writer Jack Thorne, with Scott and Michael Pruss producing via Scott Free. In addition to penning the screenplay, Thorne will also executive produce.
Where will Treasure Island dock?
Treasure Island is hitting the Hollywood market today, with several major Hollywood studios hoping to set sail alongside Scott and Jackman’s ambitious reimagining of Stevenson’s 1883 novel. Deadline reports that 20th Century Studios had a first look at Scott’s Treasure Island film, but ultimately passed on it due to its ties to Disney and its Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
What’s Treasure Island about?
The Treasure Island story grew out of a map that led to imaginary treasure, devised by Stevenson and his nephew during a holiday in Scotland. The tale is told by an adventurous boy, Jim Hawkins, who finds a treasure map and sets out with an adult crew to find the buried treasure. Among the crew, however, is the treacherous Long John Silver, who is determined to keep the treasure for himself. Stevenson’s first full-length work of fiction brought him immediate fame and continues to captivate readers of all ages.
Since its publication in 1883, Treasure Island has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into over 50 languages, making it one of the most enduring literary touchstones ever written.
Disney’s Treasure Planet
Disney put its own spin on Stevenson’s Treasure Island with the 2002 animated feature Treasure Planet. Unleashed in theaters when Disney was still obsessed with scratching its science fiction itch, Treasure Planet reimagines Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island for an action-adventure epic that pushes the limits of the studio’s computer-generated capabilities while still keeping plenty of 2D elements on display. Helmed by John Musker and Ron Clements, Treasure Planet follows Jim Hawkins, a young troublemaker with a desire to go beyond the stars, on a swashbuckling mission across the cosmos to uncover a fabled pirate’s treasure.
Starring the voices of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brian Murray, David Hyde Pearce, Martin Short, Emma Thompson, and more, Treasure Planet isn’t as character-rich as most Disney classics. It won’t earn any points from me for its soundtrack, but what it lacks in personas and song is made up for with stunning visuals, imaginative worldbuilding, and alien extras that keep your eyes busy throughout the journey. Treasure Planet feels like a Don Bluth movie, with artistry that evokes the style of Windsor McKay, as seen through the lens of Jacques Cousteau.
Have you read Treasure Planet? Are you excited about this adaptation? Let us know in the comments section below.
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