Quick answer: MGM+’s Treasure Island series has the first-mover advantage, with a six-part story led by David Oyelowo, Hayley Atwell, and Tom Sweet. Hugh Jackman’s separate Treasure Island film, directed by Ridley Scott, has a major star and an experienced filmmaker attached, but it is a different project scheduled for theatrical release in 2027. There is no reliable way to declare a winner before audiences have seen the film. For now, the more useful comparison is what each adaptation appears designed to do.
Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 adventure has been retold for generations because its central conflict keeps working: a young person enters a world of danger, and the charismatic pirate who seems helpful may be the most dangerous person aboard. In 2026 and 2027, two new screen versions are approaching that story from different directions. One is already arriving as a television drama; the other is being developed as a feature film.
What is the biggest difference between the two Treasure Island adaptations?
The clearest difference is format. MGM+’s version is a six-episode adventure drama, giving the story room to develop Bess Hawkins, Jim’s mother, as a major participant in the action. The series stars Tom Sweet as Jim, Hayley Atwell as Bess, and David Oyelowo as Long John Silver. Jack Huston plays Aaron Graham, while Tomer Capone appears as Billy Bones.
The Ridley Scott film is a separate feature adaptation written by Jack Thorne, with Hugh Jackman attached as Long John Silver. Recent trade reporting says Hugh Grant and Owen Cooper are also attached to the film. Sony has set a U.S. theatrical release date of November 11, 2027. The film is still in development, so plot details, finished production footage, and the final on-screen chemistry cannot yet be judged against the released series.
Long John Silver: David Oyelowo vs Hugh Jackman
Silver is the role most likely to define the comparison. He is not simply a villain with a peg leg; he is a persuasive survivor who can make danger look like friendship. The character works best when the audience understands why other people trust him even while sensing that his loyalties may change whenever the stakes rise.
Oyelowo’s version arrives in a series that can let suspicion build over several episodes. The official series material describes Silver as ambitious and complex, with his plans for the treasure putting him in conflict with Jim and Bess. That serialized structure offers room for gradual changes in trust, shifting alliances, and consequences that can play out over time.
Jackman brings a different kind of screen presence to the role, but the film has not yet provided finished scenes that would allow a fair performance comparison. A star’s name and a director’s reputation can create anticipation; they cannot tell viewers whether a particular interpretation of Silver will feel layered, frightening, or emotionally convincing.
It is also important not to confuse promotional portraits of Jackman with footage from the new film. The project is separate from the MGM+ series, and an event photograph of Jackman is not a still of him playing Silver. Until official production images or a trailer are released, any supposed image of Jackman in the film’s pirate costume should be treated cautiously.
Jim Hawkins and Bess: where television has more room to explore
One of the series’ most noticeable choices is its expanded focus on Bess Hawkins. Rather than leaving Jim’s mother on the edge of the adventure, the adaptation makes her decisions central to the family’s survival. That choice changes the emotional balance: Jim is still growing into his own courage, but he is not facing the voyage alone.
Tom Sweet’s Jim is described in the series premise as a sheltered teenager forced to mature quickly. Bess’s intelligence and determination give the story a second perspective on risk. She has adult responsibilities and limited options, while Jim is discovering that the wider world is more complicated than he expected. Their relationship can carry a season-long arc that a feature film would need to compress.
The film may choose a tighter focus on Jim’s coming-of-age journey and Silver’s manipulation, but that remains an expectation rather than a confirmed judgment. A shorter runtime can sharpen a story; it can also leave less space for supporting characters. The execution, not the format alone, will determine whether that trade-off works.
Which version looks more historically grounded?
Neither adaptation should be judged as a documentary. Stevenson’s novel is a work of fiction, and each screen version has to decide how much historical texture to add around its treasure map, shipboard life, weapons, costumes, and pirate politics.
The MGM+ series has promoted a grittier approach and places its characters in a world shaped by competing ambitions and shifting loyalties. The film’s historical style cannot be assessed fairly until official production material reveals more than the project’s premise and creative team. A realistic-looking ship or costume can create atmosphere, but historical authenticity also depends on how the story depicts labor, discipline, navigation, violence, and the social order at sea.
Release dates and where to watch
- Treasure Island series: Premiered on MGM+ in the United States on October 11, 2026. Paramount+ UK and Ireland lists its premiere as October 12, 2026, with six episodes released weekly.
- Ridley Scott’s Treasure Island film: Sony has announced a U.S. theatrical release date of November 11, 2027. It is a separate feature project starring Hugh Jackman as Long John Silver.
For viewers who want to start now, the series is the available option. The film is one to watch for future trailers, casting updates, and production news—not a finished competitor that can already be ranked against the show.
Watch the MGM+ series trailer
This official trailer gives viewers a direct look at the tone, cast, and visual approach of the 2026 series. It should not be mistaken for a trailer for Ridley Scott’s separate film.
So, which Treasure Island version will win?
For now, there is no honest winner to announce. The MGM+ series has the advantage of being available to watch and of having several episodes to develop Jim, Bess, and Silver. Ridley Scott’s film has a high-profile director, Hugh Jackman in the central pirate role, and a theatrical date in 2027—but audiences have not yet seen enough of the finished movie to judge it.
The most meaningful contest will be about interpretation, not star power alone. Can the series use its longer format to make the Hawkins family’s choices feel urgent? Can the film turn the same familiar material into a focused, cinematic adventure without losing Silver’s dangerous charm? Those are the questions that will decide which version stays with viewers after the treasure is found.
Sources and further reading
- Paramount+ UK & Ireland: Treasure Island official series guide
- Playground Entertainment: Treasure Island production details
- TheWrap: Sony’s 2027 release date announcement
- Production List: Ridley Scott’s Treasure Island film status
- ComingSoon: How the MGM+ trailer differs from the Hugh Jackman film project
By Shivam Das
