Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine, P.T. Barnum, Van Helsing, Jean Valjean, and most recently Robin Hood, has added another classic character to his filmography: pirate Long John Silver.
Director Ridley Scott asked Jackman to star in his new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 novel Treasure Island. Scott will direct the film from a script by Emmy Award-winning “Adolescence” writer Jack Thorne and co-produce with Michael Pruss for the Scott Free banner. Thorne will serve as executive producer on the new film. The attention-grabbing package hit the market on Monday.
Stevenson’s story “The Pirate and the Buried Treasure” is one of the most famous and most frequently adapted pirate stories ever written. Treasure Island follows a young Jim Hawkins as he finds a map to Captain Flint’s long-lost fortune and embarks on a perilous voyage aboard the Hispaniola. On board, Jim and his crew face a rebellion led by the cunning one-legged cook, Long John Silver, but ultimately outwit the pirates and obtain the gold. Set in the 18th century, this coming-of-age story popularized many pirate tropes, including a treasure map marked with an “X,” the Black Spot, and a one-legged sailor with a parrot on his shoulder.
The “Treasure Island” project is currently being prepared for the August release of director Scott’s latest film, 20th Century’s “The Dog Stars.” A new trailer for the apocalyptic thriller starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley was released early Monday. Jackman will next star in A24’s The Death of Robin Hood, directed by filmmaker Michael Sarnosky, which will be released on June 19th.
Jackman is repped by WME and Sloan, Offer, Weber & Dern. Scott is represented by CAA. Thorne is represented by UTA, Cassarotto Ramsey & Associates, and Sloan Offer Weber & Dern.
Deadline first reported the news of the package.
