David Oyelowo's Menacing Long John Silver Dominates New 'Treasure Island' Adaptation

Paramount+'s new adaptation of "Treasure Island" features a formidable Long John Silver, brought to life by actor David Oyelowo. Critics have noted Oyelowo's menacing portrayal, suggesting his performance anchors the series.

This iteration of the pirate captain speaks with a Caribbean accent, a departure from the West Country inflection often associated with the character, thanks to Robert Newton's iconic performance in the 1950 film. Oyelowo's Silver is described as having an underlying menace, even in his smile, and his arrival at the Admiral Benbow pub instills palpable fear. Despite being one-legged, his prowess in a fight is highlighted in the early episodes.

The series, which is action-packed and highly watchable, takes some liberties with Robert Louis Stevenson's original novel. One significant and praised alteration is the reimagining of young Jim Hawkins as possessing a near-perfect memory, capable of reciting entire pages from the Bible after a single glance.

Hayley Atwell plays Jim's ambitious mother, Bess, who runs the pub. In this version, she is a central figure and driving force, unlike in the book where she remains at home. Bess's resourcefulness extends to betting customers that Jim cannot recite a chosen passage, a challenge he consistently meets. Atwell's character is depicted with a glint of ambition, and she is also shown to be adept with a pistol and sword.

While the series is praised for its engaging narrative and performances, one reviewer humorously noted a lack of dialogue for the parrot, a classic element of pirate lore.

"Treasure Island" premiered on Paramount+.