By Shivam Das · Updated October 12, 2026
Hayley Atwell is at the center of the promotional conversation around the 2026 Treasure Island adaptation, playing Bess Hawkins, a character whose expanded role gives Jim Hawkins’ journey a different emotional foundation. Paramount+ UK & Ireland has published a set of official first-look images featuring Atwell and her co-stars. These are promotional stills from the series—not verified behind-the-scenes photographs—so this gallery identifies them accurately.
Quick answer: The official images show Atwell as Bess Hawkins, her on-screen relationship with Tom Sweet’s Jim, and the wider pirate-adventure world around them. They offer a visual preview of the adaptation’s character-led approach, but they do not by themselves prove how the story or performances will be received.
1. Hayley Atwell’s Bess Hawkins takes the foreground
The first-look portrait presents Bess as a practical, self-possessed figure rather than a character who exists only at the edge of Jim’s story. That matters because Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 novel gives Jim’s mother very little page time. The television adaptation expands Bess into a more active participant in the journey, creating room for a maternal perspective within a story usually framed around a boy’s coming of age.
In an interview published by TV Insider on October 12, Atwell discussed the freedom of building a fuller character from a relatively small role in the source material. That is a useful lens for reading the promotional images: they show the production’s intended character emphasis, not audience consensus or proof that every change works dramatically.
2. The Bess-and-Jim dynamic is part of the pitch
The image of Bess and Jim together makes the mother-son relationship a visible part of the adventure. That can give the adaptation a different emotional rhythm from versions that move quickly from the Admiral Benbow Inn to the ship and the treasure hunt. It also raises a fair question for viewers: does giving Bess more agency deepen Jim’s coming-of-age story, or does it pull attention away from his decisions? The answer depends on how the episodes balance their perspectives.
For more context, read our coverage of Hayley Atwell’s expanded role as Jim’s mother and our breakdown of how the 2026 series changes its characters.
3. Long John Silver signals a distinct visual identity
David Oyelowo’s Long John Silver is presented with the familiar parrot, but the costume, performance and character history belong to this production’s own interpretation. In interviews, Oyelowo has described the importance of grounding the character’s background and voice in a specific cultural context. That is a more meaningful point of comparison than judging the image against a single earlier screen version.
A still photograph cannot tell us whether the performance lands across a full episode. It can, however, show how the marketing positions Silver: immediately recognizable as a pirate, while leaving space for a reinterpretation of the character’s past and motivations.
4. The production’s period look extends beyond the central family
Jack Huston’s Aaron Graham is a new element in this version’s political and adventure plot. His presence suggests that the series is widening the conflict beyond the search for buried treasure. Whether that additional storyline enriches the adaptation depends on its execution, but the promotional material makes clear that the series is building a broader ensemble around Jim, Bess and Silver.
5. Jim Hawkins remains the story’s point of transformation
Tom Sweet’s Jim is shown in a quieter moment rather than a large action set piece. That is a reminder that the story is not only about ships, weapons and treasure: it is also about a young person learning whom to trust. The adaptation’s challenge is to let Jim make consequential choices even while the expanded adult characters bring their own agendas to the voyage.
Watch the official trailer
The trailer gives a better sense of the series’ movement, atmosphere and tone than still photography can provide. The video below is embedded from the official trailer player linked by Paramount+ UK & Ireland.
Are these behind-the-scenes photos?
No. The five images above are official first-look promotional stills published by Paramount+ UK & Ireland. They depict the characters in scenes from the series; they should not be described as candid set photography or behind-the-scenes production images. The source page credits Paramount+ UK & Ireland and identifies the pictured cast members.
Where to find the original images and cast details
Paramount+ UK & Ireland’s official Treasure Island guide and first-look gallery is the primary source for these promotional stills, the cast overview and the UK release information. TV Insider also published an October 12 interview with Hayley Atwell and David Oyelowo about the adaptation’s character changes.
Frequently asked questions
Who does Hayley Atwell play in Treasure Island?
Atwell plays Bess Hawkins, Jim Hawkins’ mother. The 2026 adaptation gives Bess a much larger role than she has in Stevenson’s original novel.
Where were the new Treasure Island photos published?
The first-look images were published by Paramount+ UK & Ireland on its official series guide. Image captions above credit that source.
Are the photos new behind-the-scenes images?
They are official first-look promotional stills, not verified behind-the-scenes photographs. The distinction matters because a scene still is not evidence of what happened between takes on set.
Where can viewers watch Treasure Island?
The series is a Paramount+ title in the UK and Ireland and an MGM+ title in the United States. Availability can vary by territory and subscription.
Sources
- Paramount+ UK & Ireland — Treasure Island: Everything You Need to Know (official series information and first-look images).
- TV Insider — Hayley Atwell and David Oyelowo on major book-to-screen changes (October 12, 2026).
Editorial note: Images are displayed from the official Paramount+ page and are credited to Paramount+ UK & Ireland. Publishers should confirm their rights to reproduce or hotlink promotional assets under their applicable terms.
