MGM+ is beating Ridley Scott to Treasure Island, and it lands on October 11
Robert Louis Stevenson’s iconic pirate book is charting a course for a six-part miniseries — with the premiere date already locked.
Here we go again with Treasure Island. It seems you wait decades for an adaptation of this old chestnut, and then suddenly the year 2026 drops two on your head. Ridley Scott’s high-profile film version (with Hugh Jackman as Long John Silver, no less) keeps hogging headlines, but before that ship leaves port, Amazon's MGM+ will get there first — and, judging from what we’ve just learned, far sooner than you'd expect.
MGM+ Series Takes the Lead
MGM+ has now put out the very first poster for their six-episode Treasure Island series — classic treasure chest imagery, moody clouds shaped like a skull (because Skeleton Island still sets the vibe), the works. It’s not just a bit of promo fluff, though: the poster reckons the series lands Sunday, 11 October 2026. That’s ages before Ridley’s version gets its act together.
The six-part Treasure Island series arrives on MGM+ on Sunday, 11 October 2026.
Over on X (the artist formerly known as Twitter), MGM+ gave things a poetic nudge with: 'A legend that refuses to stay buried. A race that could cost everything.' You get the sense they know they’re in a scrap for attention.
Who’s Who Aboard This Ship?
Now, before you start picturing Wolverine with a peg leg, a clarification: David Oyelowo (Selma) is your Long John Silver for this one, not Hugh Jackman. Joining him: Tom Sweet (recent Great Expectations) as Jim Hawkins, Hayley Atwell popping up as Bess Hawkins (yes, Jim's mum), Jack Huston weighs in as Aaron Graham, and Tomer Capone (The Boys) gets a bit of the action as Billy Bones. So, plenty of familiar faces, but not entirely the cast you might have guessed.
- Long John Silver – David Oyelowo
- Jim Hawkins – Tom Sweet
- Bess Hawkins – Hayley Atwell
- Aaron Graham – Jack Huston
- Billy Bones – Tomer Capone
This Treasure Island is very much MGM+ and Paramount+ teaming up, but only if you’re in the UK or Ireland will you actually see it via Paramount+ — otherwise, MGM+ is your only option. Behind the camera, it’s Robert Murphy calling the creative shots, with Jeremy Lovering, Paul Walker, and William McGregor all directing at various points. Not a bad lineup for a pirate yarn.
The Crowded October Line-Up
October is shaping up to be bonkers for new TV — proper arms race stuff. Just before Treasure Island, Carrie (yes, the Stephen King horror staple) is getting yet another screen treatment, premiering on 7 October. Then, on the 8th, CBS launches Eternally Yours, a vampire sitcom from the Ghosts team. Hot on their heels, Disney+ throws in VisionQuest on 14 October, followed immediately by Crystal Lake (yes, more Friday the 13th lore) on the 15th. Not to mention DC’s Lanterns signing off its first season on 4 October. So, if you lose track of your pirates among all the superpowered weirdness and supernatural prom queens, you’re not alone.
There’s a bit of déjà vu here: people wrote off MGM+’s Robin Hood not that long ago, and it turned out to be a surprise bit of streaming gold, so discount Treasure Island at your peril.
MGM+ boss Michael Wright didn’t mince his words when he hyped the series up in March:
“This thrilling new adaptation of Stevenson’s classic adventure Treasure Island is a perfect expression of the MGM+ brand. It is classic Hollywood storytelling crafted for a contemporary audience, brought to life with an extraordinary ensemble cast.”