The new adaptation of Treasure Island revamps two of its biggest characters.
Originally published as a book in 1883, Treasure Island follows young Jim Hawkins, who goes on a dangerous journey to recover treasure that was hidden by the notorious pirate Captain Flint. Along the way, Jim encounters Long John Silver, a cunning sailor whose true intentions become more clear as the story unfolds. The novel has inspired countless film and TV adaptations, including Disney’s 1950 live-action movie and 1996’s Muppet Treasure Island.
MGM+’s Treasure Island is putting a new spin on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure novel, with stars David Oyelowo and Hayley Atwell. During an interview with Playlist, the two actors explain how the latest adaptation distinguishes itself from previous versions. The duo explain that while the story of Jim Hawkins and his search for buried treasure has been adapted numerous times, the new series brings two underrepresented characters into the spotlight and significantly expands their roles beyond just being the novel’s supporting characters.
In the new series, Oyelowo portrays Long John Silver, Atwell will take on the role of Bess Hawkins, and Tom Sweet will play Jim Hawkins. However, although the MGM+ series will keep the characters, it is also making some significant changes to the source material, particularly concerning Silver’s background and Bess’s involvement in the story.
Oyelowo explained that one of the biggest differences is the decision to give Silver and Bess major roles when they have historically received far less attention. The actor added that several changes are also being made to his character. His version of Silver has Caribbean roots, providing more context to the figure and making him stand out from previous iterations. Oyelowo also discussed the importance of representation, particularly given the historical period and setting of the story. He believes that the new adaptation of Treasure Island is more inclusive.
I think the both of us sitting here are are indicators of the biggest difference with this telling of this story. I don’t think you’ve ever seen a female character this front and center in Treasure Island. Certainly not Bess Hawkins as written by Robert Lewis Stevenson and you’ve never seen a black man front and center of this narrative and certainly not in a way that is indicative of the era and the geographical place that the story plays out.
So, in many ways, you know, I like to think if Robert Lewis Stevenson was alive today, he would probably lean into more of the version that we’re telling given, you know, the lessons we’ve learned about representation and what the world actually looks like and how the stories we tell should reflect that. So, you know, having not seen that in narratives of Treasure Island thus far, that for me anyway was the was the reason why this felt like a fresh way in.
I think the both of us sitting here are are indicators of the biggest difference with this telling of this story. I don’t think you’ve ever seen a female character this front and center in Treasure Island. Certainly not Bess Hawkins as written by Robert Lewis Stevenson and you’ve never seen a black man front and center of this narrative and certainly not in a way that is indicative of the era and the geographical place that the story plays out.
So, in many ways, you know, I like to think if Robert Lewis Stevenson was alive today, he would probably lean into more of the version that we’re telling given, you know, the lessons we’ve learned about representation and what the world actually looks like and how the stories we tell should reflect that. So, you know, having not seen that in narratives of Treasure Island thus far, that for me anyway was the was the reason why this felt like a fresh way in.
However, Silver is not the only familiar character who will be getting a major change. The show will also give Bess a much bigger role and explore her relationship with her son in greater detail. In Stevenson’s original novel, Jim’s mother appears at the beginning of the story, helping establish his home life. She does not join him on his mission aboard the Hispaniola, leaving Jim to face the dangers without her. MGM+ is taking a different approach, placing Bess directly in the middle of the action.
Atwell said that she was really excited about her role. She described Bess as a complicated mother who doesn’t always make the right decisions. Her instincts to protect her child, as most parents have, don’t always match her actions. Although Bess genuinely loves Jim, her willingness to pursue her own goals sometimes places both of them in dangerous situations.
Bess is fiercely protective of her son, Jim, but she’s also the person, you know, willing to chase the treasure, put them in extraordinary danger. I mean I really like contradiction like that that she can be a good mother and still make a potentially, you know, dangerous parenting decisions. I definitely leaned more into it. I wanted to explore ways in which we could show a dynamic between Jim and Bess that felt more sort of realistic rather than just she is the parent, she is the one in charge, she is there to protect him or she’s a bad parent. But the nuances and idiosyncrasies of a dynamic like that particularly because they are all that they have in the world and at times they are co-conspirators they are business partners at times he parents her at times and it was it was important to me then that we found ways that we would show that through.
<p>It invites me as a performer to add this element of everything is high stakes. So she's surviving and she's got I feel what's most interesting to watch in a character in a in a genre like this is pressure from all sides and everything is a is a danger has an element of threat to her. She's a woman in this kind of environment. She's has to be at times seductive, manipulative. She has to feain vulnerability at times. She's vulnerable everywhere and she wants to protect her son, but also she needs to also use him to advance them both as a family unit and really she becomes the sort of a representation of his origin story. I think overall we see more of a sense of who Jim is based on where he's come from.</p> </blockquote>Bess is fiercely protective of her son, Jim, but she’s also the person, you know, willing to chase the treasure, put them in extraordinary danger. I mean I really like contradiction like that that she can be a good mother and still make a potentially, you know, dangerous parenting decisions. I definitely leaned more into it. I wanted to explore ways in which we could show a dynamic between Jim and Bess that felt more sort of realistic rather than just she is the parent, she is the one in charge, she is there to protect him or she’s a bad parent. But the nuances and idiosyncrasies of a dynamic like that particularly because they are all that they have in the world and at times they are co-conspirators they are business partners at times he parents her at times and it was it was important to me then that we found ways that we would show that through.
It invites me as a performer to add this element of everything is high stakes. So she’s surviving and she’s got I feel what’s most interesting to watch in a character in a in a genre like this is pressure from all sides and everything is a is a danger has an element of threat to her. She’s a woman in this kind of environment. She’s has to be at times seductive, manipulative. She has to feain vulnerability at times. She’s vulnerable everywhere and she wants to protect her son, but also she needs to also use him to advance them both as a family unit and really she becomes the sort of a representation of his origin story. I think overall we see more of a sense of who Jim is based on where he’s come from.
Treasure Island releases new episodes every Sunday on MGM+.
Treasure Island
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