Long John Silver Returns: Ridley Scott and Hugh Jackman Team for 'Treasure Island' in Late 2027

Sony Pictures has staked out a major theatrical foothold for late 2027, officially dating director Ridley Scott's adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's foundational adventure novel Treasure Island for November 11, 2027.

The production unites the veteran British filmmaker with Hugh Jackman, who steps into the role of the treacherous yet magnetically persuasive pirate cook Long John Silver. Produced alongside Michael Pruss under Scott's long-running Scott Free banner, the project represents Sony's calculated bet on grand-scale classical literature to anchor its competitive holiday theatrical slate.

To modernize Stevenson's 1883 sea-voyage narrative without stripping its moral grit, the studio enlisted acclaimed British playwright and screenwriter Jack Thorne. Thorne, known for his character-driven dramaturgy on Adolescence, His Dark Materials, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, is structuring the screenplay around the psychological duel between Silver and young Jim Hawkins, played by rising star Owen Cooper. The ensemble is further bolstered by the addition of Hugh Grant in an undisclosed pivotal role.

The partnership underscores Ridley Scott's singular standing in contemporary Hollywood. While rival major studios grapple with ballooning production timelines and multi-year post-production bottlenecks, Scott has maintained a ruthless industrial cadence well into his late eighties. Delivering visually dense, historically detailed epics on strict schedules and tightly managed physical sets, Scott offers Sony a reliable commercial engine capable of commanding premier IMAX and premium-large-format screen allocations.

The choice of Treasure Island also marks a notable pivot away from modern superhero franchises toward foundational adventure epics. In a cinematic landscape weary of interconnected multi-title cinematic universes, self-contained public-domain narratives offer universal brand recognition without the baggage of studio-mandated shared continuity. The narrative of hidden treasure, mutiny on the high seas, and shifting loyalties provides an ideal canvas for Scott's tactile visual style.

What is officially locked on the industry calendar is Sony's worldwide theatrical premiere on November 11, 2027, backed by Scott Free Productions. What remains to be revealed as the production prepares for principal photography is Hugh Grant's specific historical role and the initial visual designs for Scott's maritime fleet.