‘Treasure Island’ Trailer Teases a Fresh Take on the Classic Adventure

Robert Louis Stevenson’s pirate classic is heading back to the screen, and MGM+’s ‘Treasure Island’ is shaping up to be one of the season’s most ambitious adventure series. First commissioned in March by MGM+ in the US and Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland, the 6-part series comes from Playground Entertainment, with Fifth Season handling global distribution.

The adaptation was created for television by Robert Murphy, known for his work on ‘Vera’ and ‘Shetland’. Jeremy Lovering of ‘Slow Horses’ serves as lead director alongside William McGregor, and the series was filmed in Spain, with production services from Ánima Stillking.

Now fans have their best look yet at the high-seas saga. On September 24, a new trailer for ‘Treasure Island’ arrived ahead of its October 11 premiere on MGM+, and the 2-minute, 24-second preview quickly caught attention online.

The footage builds on the first-look images Deadline revealed earlier this month, which showed the main cast in character. Those photos introduced Tom Sweet as Jim Hawkins, Hayley Atwell as his mother Bess Hawkins, and Oyelowo as Long John Silver, complete with peg leg and parrot.

The series charts the transformation of teenager Jim Hawkins from sheltered boy to emboldened young pirate. When Jim gets his hands on a legendary treasure map, Bess’s clever and decisive actions leave him holding valuable knowledge that puts both of their lives in danger.

A grittier voyage than the one you remember. #TreasureIsland, starring David Oyelowo and Hayley Atwell, premieres October 11 on #MGMplus. pic.twitter.com/SWJvJFwgqw

— MGM+ (@mgmplus) September 24, 2026

That quest pulls mother and son into conflict with both the British Navy and a band of pirates. Playground’s joint managing directors, David Stern and Scott Huff, described it as an epic, high-stakes adventure with timeless themes of conquest, greed, and coming of age, adding that Murphy’s script is surprising, entertaining, and true to the original novel.

MGM+ is equally confident in the project. “It is a classic Hollywood story crafted for a contemporary audience, brought to life with an extraordinary ensemble cast,” MGM+ head Michael Wright told Variety when the series was first announced.

Oyelowo’s casting is especially notable. The ‘Selma’ and ‘Silo’ star becomes the first Black actor to play Long John Silver in this iconic role, according to Blex Media.

He leads a strong ensemble. Atwell, who will also appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, plays Bess, while ‘Boardwalk Empire’ star Jack Huston plays Aaron Graham, and Tomer Capone of ‘The Boys’ takes on Billy Bones.

Horizontal and vertical posters of Treasure Island.#HayleyAtwell pic.twitter.com/vNSvnJWVzv

— Love Hayley Atwell (@HayleyAtwell_CN) September 24, 2026

Sweet, known for ‘Great Expectations’, has the central role of young Jim. The cast also includes Tristan Sturrock of ‘Poldark’ as Captain Smollett, along with Craige Els as Mr. Arrow.

This new version doesn’t simply retell the familiar story. The episode noted that the series brings a fresh take to the novel while expanding its world and characters for television, which helps explain the bigger role for Bess and the addition of characters like Huston’s Aaron Graham.

Paramount+’s Sebastian Cardwell also told Variety that the adaptation brings fresh emotional depth and a striking contemporary edge to Stevenson’s story, suggesting this won’t be a straightforward swashbuckler.

‘Treasure Island’ premieres on MGM+ in the United States on October 11, followed by its Paramount+ debut in the UK and Ireland on October 12. New episodes will roll out weekly through November 15 in the US and November 16 in the UK and Ireland.

The series lands in a busy October, arriving just days before Marvel’s ‘VisionQuest’ and the ‘Friday the 13th’ prequel ‘Crystal Lake’. With a star-studded cast and a fresh take on a beloved tale, it could become one of the fall’s surprise TV hits.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!