Pirate adventures have always been a cornerstone of Disney’s storytelling legacy. From the timeless charm of Treasure Island (1950), the studio’s first live-action film, to the ambitious sci-fi spin of Treasure Planet (2002),
Disney has shown a knack for reinventing classic tales. Now, the studio is setting sail once again with a new take on Robert Louis Stevenson’s iconic novel Treasure Island—but this time, they’re riding waves instead of waves of nostalgia.
This latest adaptation comes from Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, the indie filmmaking duo behind The Peanut Butter Falcon. Their vision is a radical departure from the source material: a 1970s Australian surfer twist on the high-seas adventure. Instead of creaking wooden ships and Caribbean islands, the story will unfold against the backdrop of sandy beaches and crashing surf, capturing the freedom and grit of the era’s surf culture.
Themes of found family, outsider energy, and brotherhood are central to their reimagining, promising a fresh take on the treasure-seeking drama.
While this unique approach may surprise fans of traditional pirate stories, it arrives at a pivotal time for Disney. The studio’s most famous pirate property, Pirates of the Caribbean, has been in development limbo for years. Despite the franchise’s monumental success, Disney has struggled to chart a course for its sixth installment. The absence of Johnny Depp’s iconic Captain Jack Sparrow has left fans divided, and attempts to reboot or spin off the series, including a project reportedly featuring Margot Robbie, have failed to gain traction.
The decision to focus on Treasure Island could be Disney’s way of steering its pirate adventures into uncharted territory. By revisiting this classic tale with a bold new twist, the studio has an opportunity to explore fresh storytelling avenues while avoiding the controversies that have bogged down Pirates of the Caribbean.
For audiences, this new take on Treasure Island offers a blend of nostalgia and innovation, promising an adventure that feels both familiar and excitingly different. Whether it will be enough to satisfy Disney’s pirate-loving fans remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—Disney isn’t ready to abandon the treasure map just yet.
