Unexpected mash-up alert: Pirates of the Caribbean meets Gladiator in Ridley Scott's new epic

If you thought the world had seen every possible spin on Treasure Island, think again. We’re getting another go, this time with Ridley Scott at the helm and Hugh Jackman aboard as Long John Silver, which honestly feels like a promising bit of casting. Let’s be honest—if you’re after a classic tale of pirate adventures, backstabbing, and the odd bit of swashbuckling, you could do a lot worse than letting the director of Gladiator loose on Robert Louis Stevenson’s legendary yarn.

Scott sets sail (again)

Stevenson’s Treasure Island isn’t exactly short on retellings—Hollywood’s been at it since the silent era, with everything from pitch-black live-action versions to the full Muppet treatment (which, to be fair, is iconic in its own right). We even got the animated sci-fi riff Treasure Planet. But frankly, it’s been ages since anyone’s had a crack at a live-action version that really goes all-in on the scale; think proper historical epic, not “let’s dress Tim Curry up and see what happens.” Considering Scott’s recent track record—Kingdom of Heaven, Napoleon, and a forthcoming post-apocalyptic feature The Dog Stars—this new film is shaping up to land firmly in that ‘massive spectacle’ wheelhouse.

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator may be the standard-bearer, but Treasure Island could put a more brutal, grown-up spin on the pirate genre.

Jackman as Long John Silver

The real casting coup is Hugh Jackman stepping into the boots of the world’s most famous peg-legged antihero. If you’re the sort who enjoyed his weirdly overlooked turn as Blackbeard in Pan, you know Jackman’s not afraid to play a villain with real charisma (and questionable morals). Silver is one of those rare roles where you need to be equal parts menacing, manipulative, and genuinely likeable—making Jackman about as good a fit as you’ll find in Hollywood right now.

• Ridley Scott directing, off the back of The Dog Stars (out 28 August 2026)
• Hugh Jackman confirmed as Long John Silver
• Stevenson’s original book blended psychological drama with swashbuckling adventure
• Last major live-action adaptation of this scale: decades ago

If you’re shockingly unfamiliar, Treasure Island is essentially the blueprint for all pirate tales: a child protagonist (Jim Hawkins), a hunt for buried treasure, torn loyalties, and the constant threat of betrayal. Silver isn’t just the main antagonist, he’s also a mentor of sorts—that blend of villainy and quasi-fatherliness is what makes the character compelling, and explains why the story keeps getting revived.

Ridley Scott’s Dog Stars drops in August 2026; Treasure Island follows as his next project.

Where Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean series leaned hard into fantasy, curses, and set pieces worthy of a theme park ride, Scott’s take sounds like it’ll push for authenticity—real cannon fire, proper blood and thunder, and little in the way of soft edges. If you’ve ever watched a recent swords-and-sandals film and mourned the lack of stakes, this may be more your pace. With Jackman attached—and a director who clearly doesn’t do things by halves—there’s every chance this will end up the go-to adaptation for modern audiences, and possibly even wrest the pirate crown back from Jack Sparrow.