Quick answer: MGM+’s 2026 Treasure Island keeps Robert Louis Stevenson’s treasure hunt, Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver and the voyage aboard the Hispaniola—but it reshapes the story with a much larger role for Jim’s mother Bess, a photographic-memory ability for Jim, a revised history for Silver, and a new character in Aaron Graham. These choices modernize the story but also change the balance and mystery that made the 1883 novel endure.
By Shivam Das · Updated October 12, 2026 · Spoilers for the premise and early episodes.
The six-part series is a reimagining, not a scene-by-scene retelling. Paramount+’s official guide says Jim and Bess Hawkins obtain Captain Flint’s map and travel aboard the Hispaniola, where Long John Silver and other competing interests pursue the same prize. The UK premiere is October 12, with episodes scheduled weekly. Read Paramount+’s official series guide.
At a glance: the five biggest changes
- Bess Hawkins moves to the foreground: Jim’s mother becomes a major participant in the adventure.
- Jim gains a photographic memory: a heightened ability changes how the map and information work in the plot.
- Long John Silver receives a revised backstory: the series gives him a more explicit Caribbean and enslavement-related history.
- Aaron Graham is added: Jack Huston plays a new figure whose interests complicate Jim’s journey.
- The tone becomes more heightened: flashbacks, special abilities and additional family and political drama move the story away from a straightforward coming-of-age adventure.
1. Bess Hawkins is no longer a background character
In Stevenson’s novel, Jim’s mother matters to the opening at the Admiral Benbow Inn, but she does not accompany him through the central sea adventure. The series makes Bess, played by Hayley Atwell, a far more active force in the search for Flint’s treasure. Jim’s future is tied not only to his courage but also to his mother’s ambitions, decisions and willingness to take risks.
The change is not automatically a betrayal of the source. A modern adaptation can explore a character who was barely developed in the original. Atwell has said that the relative lack of detail about Bess gave her room to build a fuller character. The trade-off is structural: when Bess takes up more space, Jim’s traditional coming-of-age arc has less room to breathe. TV Insider’s cast interview discusses the thinking behind these changes.
2. Jim’s photographic memory changes the treasure-map mystery
The new Jim, played by Tom Sweet, is associated with a photographic-memory ability. It is a striking departure because the novel’s tension depends on what Jim notices, remembers, misunderstands and chooses to do. A special ability can make him useful to the plot, but remembering a detail is not the same as understanding danger, reading another person or making a brave decision.
If the ability creates complications or puts Jim in danger, it can become meaningful characterization. If it mainly solves problems conveniently, it may feel like a superpower grafted onto a story whose original appeal was practical courage and hard-earned judgment. How later episodes use the idea matters more than the idea alone.
3. Long John Silver is given a more explicit Caribbean history
David Oyelowo’s Silver is not simply a familiar pirate villain with a new face. The series gives him a more explicit Caribbean background, including a history connected to enslavement, and grounds his speech in Jamaican cultural influences. That changes the character’s social context and opens a different way to explore power, survival and the legacy of empire.
The idea gives Silver a history beyond his reputation as a cunning sailor. But a backstory earns its place only if it shapes the character’s actions rather than functioning as a label. Oyelowo’s performance has been singled out as a strength even by critics less persuaded by the adaptation overall. The Guardian praised the performance while criticizing the script and wider creative choices. Read The Guardian’s review.
4. Aaron Graham adds a new player to the contest
Jack Huston’s Aaron Graham is a new character rather than a direct carryover from Stevenson’s novel. His presence introduces another set of motives and another possible influence on Jim. In principle, that can make the world feel larger than a simple race between the people who possess the map and the pirates who want it.
The risk is narrative dilution. Treasure Island already has a strong engine: a map, a voyage, divided loyalties and Silver’s uncertain mix of charm and menace. A new character needs to intensify those conflicts or reveal something essential about Jim. If he pulls the story into a separate adventure for too long, viewers may feel that the central treasure hunt has been put on hold. The A.V. Club’s review similarly questions whether some new material connects to the main quest. Read The A.V. Club’s review.
5. The tone is more heightened than the book’s grounded adventure
The 2026 version uses stylized storytelling, including flashbacks, heightened abilities and additional family and political elements. Stevenson’s novel is not free of melodrama, but its suspense often comes from limited information and the threat posed by people who may be lying. A more elaborate adaptation changes the rhythm: viewers must track a wider web of motives while still expecting the direct pleasure of a pirate adventure.
That balancing act is where the critical response has been sharpest. The Guardian awarded the series two out of five stars and objected to several additions, while other reviews have questioned whether the reinvention holds together. These are critics’ judgments, not proof that all viewers dislike the show. The fair conclusion is that the changes are divisive in early critical discussion—not that every fan has rejected them.
Why some readers may dislike the changes—and why others may welcome them
Book purists often value the original’s economy: Jim is the viewpoint character, Silver’s charm hides a threat, and the map gives the plot a clear destination. Expanding Bess, adding a memory ability and introducing Aaron Graham changes that balance. For readers who want the familiar coming-of-age story, those choices can feel like distractions.
Other viewers may welcome the chance to give Bess a life beyond the opening chapters and place Silver in a more specific historical context. Adaptation is not a test of whether every detail stays unchanged. The better question is whether the new details deepen the themes and make the drama more compelling. A bold change can work; a bold change that does not affect the story meaningfully can feel ornamental.
For more context, read our related coverage: why Hayley Atwell’s expanded role changes Jim’s story, David Oyelowo’s Long John Silver compared with classic portrayals, and seven book-to-screen changes fans are debating.
Watch the official trailer
The official trailer offers a quick look at the cast, tone and action style of the new adaptation.
Video source: Paramount+ UK & Ireland. Embedded from YouTube’s privacy-enhanced domain.
Frequently asked questions
What are the biggest changes in MGM+’s Treasure Island compared with the book?
The most notable changes include a much larger role for Bess Hawkins, Jim’s photographic memory, a revised Caribbean background for Long John Silver, the addition of Aaron Graham, and a more heightened storytelling style.
Is Bess Hawkins a major character in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel?
No. Jim’s mother appears in the opening part of the novel, but the 2026 series expands her role and makes her a more active participant in the treasure hunt.
Does Jim Hawkins have a photographic memory in the original book?
No. The photographic-memory ability is an addition in the 2026 adaptation, not a defining ability in Stevenson’s 1883 novel.
Who plays Long John Silver in the 2026 Treasure Island?
David Oyelowo plays Long John Silver. The series gives the character a more explicit Caribbean history than many familiar screen versions.
Where can viewers watch Treasure Island?
Availability depends on region. Paramount+ announced the UK and Ireland premiere for October 12, 2026, while the series is also an MGM+ original. Check the official service in your country for current availability and episode schedules.
Sources and further reading
- Paramount+ UK & Ireland: official series guide and first-look images
- The Guardian: Treasure Island review, October 12, 2026
- TV Insider: cast interview on character changes
- The A.V. Club: review of the new adaptation
Editorial note: This article distinguishes verifiable adaptation details from critical opinion. “Fans are debating” does not imply a representative poll of all viewers.
