It’s been a very good week for Dean DeBlois. The How To Train Your Dragon director already signed on to helm his first live-action film with Paramount/Hasbro’s Micronauts, and he now has a second live-action project locked down in the space of a few days. DeBlois will direct a new take on Treasure Island that Universal Pictures and Mandeville Films have in development.
Evan Spiliotopoulos (Beauty And The Beast) will write the screenplay, collaborating with DeBlois on the story. Treasure Island revolves around young Jim Hawkins, who is torn between his loyalty to his benefactors and his affection for Pirate Captain Long John Silver as they seek a buried pirate treasure. It’s had multiple adaptations over the years.
This version has only been described as “a new take”, so it’s unclear whether it’s just an updated version of the classic story, or one with some story beats and other aspects significantly tweaked. What we do know is that DeBlois’ Micronauts movie will likely take precedence over this, as Treasure Island is only in early development, and that film is already scheduled for June 4, 2021.
DeBlois is a good choice for this. His How To Train Your Dragon movies are filled with wonder and joy, and one imagines Universal and Mandeville would like plenty of that in the new Treasure Island.
#Peace.Love.TreasureIsland
