Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic has been done to death. Seriously. We’ve seen Muppets do it, Disney go to space with it, and countless stiff BBC adaptations that feel like a middle school history lecture. But when the Treasure Island 2012 cast was first announced for the Sky Atlantic two-part miniseries, something felt different. It wasn't just another swashbuckling romp for kids. It was grimey. It was violent. It smelled like salt and old blood.
Honestly, the casting is the only reason this version stays in the conversation over a decade later.
You’ve got Eddie Izzard playing Long John Silver. Let that sink in. Usually, Silver is played as a sort of "jolly pirate" with a wink and a nod, but Izzard brings this manipulative, simmering desperation to the role that makes you actually uncomfortable. It's brilliant. Then you throw in Elijah Wood—yep, Frodo himself—as Ben Gunn, and things get weird in the best way possible.
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Who Really Made Up the Treasure Island 2012 Cast?
The lineup was a weirdly perfect mix of British prestige actors and Hollywood stars who weren't afraid to get dirty. Look at the dynamic between the "good guys" and the mutineers. It’s not black and white.
Donald Sutherland shows up as Captain Flint. Even though he’s mostly in flashbacks, his presence hangs over the whole three-hour runtime like a ghost. He looks terrifying. He plays Flint not as a caricature, but as a tired, ruthless man who has seen too much. It sets the tone for the rest of the Treasure Island 2012 cast. This isn't a world of "yo-ho-ho" and bottles of rum; it's a world where everyone is one bad decision away from a shallow grave.
Toby Regbo took on the role of Jim Hawkins. At the time, he was a rising star, and he plays Jim with a certain level of teenage angst and naivety that actually makes sense. You don't want a "perfect" hero. You want a kid who is out of his depth.
The Heavy Hitters in the Supporting Roles
Philip Glenister plays Captain Smollett. If you know Glenister from Life on Mars, you know he does "authoritarian with a heart of gold" better than anyone. He’s the perfect foil to the chaos of the crew. Then there’s Rupert Penry-Jones as Squire Trelawney. Usually, the Squire is just a bumbling idiot who talks too much. Here, he’s still a bit of a liability, but there’s a vanity to him that feels very "eighteenth-century aristocrat."
Then we have the pirates. This is where the Treasure Island 2012 cast shines.
- David Harewood as Billy Bones: He’s only in the beginning, but his frantic energy sets the plot in motion perfectly.
- Keith Allen as Pew: Absolute nightmare fuel. If you thought the blind pirate was scary in the book, Allen takes it to a level that feels like a horror movie.
- Daniel Mays as Dr. Livesey: Mays is one of those actors who makes everything better. He gives the Doctor a grounded, moral compass that the story desperately needs.
Why Eddie Izzard's Silver Changed the Game
Most people think of Robert Newton when they think of Long John Silver. The "arrrrgh" accent. The hammy acting. Izzard threw all of that out the window.
Her Silver is a chef. He's a politician. He's a liar. In this version, the relationship between Silver and Jim Hawkins isn't just a father-son surrogate thing; it's a chess match. You see Izzard’s Silver constantly calculating. There’s a scene where he’s talking about his wife—played by Nina Sosanya—and you realize Silver’s motivations are actually... human? It’s a bit of a departure from the source material, but it adds a layer of empathy that keeps you guessing.
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Is he a villain? Mostly. But he’s a villain you’d probably end up following because everyone else is so incompetent or cruel.
Elijah Wood and the Weirdness of Ben Gunn
Let's talk about Ben Gunn. In the book, he's a guy who has been on an island too long and wants cheese. In the 2012 version, Elijah Wood turns him into something much more twitchy and haunting. Wood has this incredible ability to use his eyes to convey madness.
When the Treasure Island 2012 cast landed Wood, it was a bit of a coup. He was a massive star, and putting him in a TV miniseries for a relatively small role showed that the production had some serious weight behind it. His Ben Gunn isn't just comic relief. He’s a victim of Flint’s legacy. He's what happens when the "pirate dream" goes completely sideways.
The Gritty Realism of the Production
The director, Steve Barron, clearly didn't want this to look like a theme park. Barron, who famously directed the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the "Take On Me" music video, used a very desaturated color palette. Everything looks damp.
The Treasure Island 2012 cast had to deal with actual locations in Ireland and Puerto Rico. You can see the physical toll in their performances. They aren't wearing pristine costumes. They have dirt under their fingernails and rotting teeth. It's a far cry from the Technicolor versions of the 1950s.
Some critics at the time—back when it aired on Sky and later Syfy in the US—complained that it was too dark. They felt it lost the "adventure" spirit. Honestly? I disagree. The sea is a dangerous place. Piracy was a miserable, short-lived career. This cast leaned into that misery, and it made the moments of actual excitement feel earned rather than scripted.
Looking Back: Where is the Cast Now?
It’s wild to see how much this group has done since 2012.
- Eddie Izzard has continued to be a powerhouse in both comedy and serious drama, recently appearing in Stay Close and Culprits.
- Toby Regbo became a bit of a period-drama king, starring in Reign and The Last Kingdom.
- David Harewood went on to be a massive part of the DC TV universe as Martian Manhunter.
- Daniel Mays is basically in every high-quality British drama produced in the last decade, from Line of Duty to Des.
The Treasure Island 2012 cast was a lightning-in-a-bottle moment where a bunch of character actors and A-listers decided to treat a "kids' book" like a Shakespearean tragedy.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re going back to watch this version now, don't expect a fast-paced action movie. It’s a slow burn. It’s about the psychological breakdown of a crew.
Pay attention to the background characters. The men playing the mutineers—actors like Shaun Parkes and Geoff Bell—bring a level of menace that makes the stakes feel real. When the mutiny finally happens, it’s not a clean break. It’s messy, confusing, and scary. That’s the strength of this ensemble. They didn't play it like a "pirate movie." They played it like a survival horror.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Rewatch:
- Focus on the Silver-Jim Dialogue: Watch how Silver shifts his tone based on whether he's talking to the crew or Jim. Izzard's vocal performance is a masterclass in manipulation.
- Look for the Flint Flashbacks: Donald Sutherland’s limited screen time defines the entire motivation of the pirates. See how his "rules" still govern them long after he's dead.
- Compare to Black Sails: If you liked the grit of the Treasure Island 2012 cast, this miniseries serves as a perfect tonal bridge between the original book and the Starz series Black Sails.
- Check the Soundtrack: The music by Paddy Cunneen is haunting and unconventional, perfectly matching the "anti-adventure" vibe of the casting choices.
Instead of looking for a fun family flick, approach this version as a character study on greed. The treasure isn't really the point—the way these specific people destroy each other to get to it is what matters. It remains one of the most underrated adaptations of the Stevenson classic precisely because the cast was willing to make these characters deeply unlikeable yet totally fascinating.