Shiver Me Timbers: David Oyelowo and Hayley Atwell Join Forces for a Bold New Treasure Island TV Series

Dust off your tricorn hats and prepare your best "arrrgh," because the Caribbean is about to get a whole lot more crowded. Just when you thought Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic had been adapted into every possible format, from Muppets to outer space, MGM+ and Paramount+ UK have decided we need one more trip to Skeleton Island. But before you roll your eyes at another reboot, take a look at the call sheet. This isn't your grandfather’s bedtime story.

A Cast Worth Their Weight in Doubloons

The upcoming Treasure Island TV series has managed to snag some serious heavy hitters. Leading the charge is David Oyelowo as the legendary Long John Silver. Casting Oyelowo, an actor who usually spends his time being dignified and Oscar-adjacent, as a manipulative, peg-legged sea dog is a stroke of genius. It suggests a version of Silver that relies more on psychological warfare than cartoonish villainy.

Joining him is Hayley Atwell as Bess Hawkins. In a pivot from the original text where Jim’s mother mostly just worries in the background, this adaptation promises Bess will be the one driving the action. She’s the catalyst who puts the map in Jim’s hands and fights to keep him alive. Basically, don't expect her to stay home and bake biscuits while the boys go sailing.

Rounding out the "dangerously attractive" category is Jack Huston as Aaron Graham, a duplicitous British agent. If there’s anything we’ve learned from prestige TV, it’s that a man in a waistcoat with a secret agenda is usually the most interesting person on screen.

Not Your Typical Pirate Pastiche

Created by Robert Murphy (the mind behind Shetland and Vera), this six-part series is aiming for a "contemporary edge." What does that mean in a 1700s setting? Likely more grit, less rum-soaked slapstick, and a healthy dose of political intrigue. The story is set against a Caribbean on the brink of revolution, adding a layer of historical tension that elevates the stakes from a simple scavenger hunt to a battle for the future of the islands.

Production is currently underway in Spain, with a directorial lineup including Jeremy Lovering (Slow Horses). If this team can capture even half the tension of a London spy thriller on the high seas, we might actually have a pirate show that doesn't feel like a theme park ride.

The Verdict So Far

While the world might not have been crying out for another Jim Hawkins origin story, the combination of Playground’s production pedigree and this powerhouse cast makes this Treasure Island adaptation one to watch. It’s a bold gamble to reinvent a story everyone knows by heart, but with Silver and Bess Hawkins leading the way, it looks like this ship might actually catch the wind.

Expect this high-stakes adventure to land on MGM+ in the States and Paramount+ in the UK. Keep your eyes on The TV Cave for more updates, trailers, and the inevitable debate over who played the best pirate.

Do you think David Oyelowo can top previous versions of Long John Silver, or is this one treasure map better left buried?