Ridley Scott could bring Treasure Island and Hugh Jackman to Fuerteventura

The British director is reportedly scouting locations for his Sony Pictures adaptation of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson adventure, with Fuerteventura among the islands being considered

Fuerteventura could be in line for another taste of Hollywood, with Ridley Scott reportedly considering the Canary Island as a location for his new adaptation of Treasure Island.

The director, known for films including Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise and Gladiator, is currently working on the Sony Pictures production and looking at possible locations for filming.

According to sources close to the production, the Canary Islands are being considered partly because of the tax incentives available to film productions, as well as the financial support offered to major shoots on the islands.

As well as that, Scott is already familiar with the island after filming his 2014 film Exodus: Gods and Kings there.

Its combination of volcanic landscapes, coastline and open spaces would also make it a natural choice for a story involving pirates, ships and a hunt for buried treasure.

There is another big name linked to the project too. Australian actor Hugh Jackman is reportedly being considered for the role of Long John Silver, the famous pirate from Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel.

Long John Silver is the clever and charismatic ship's cook who becomes one of the central characters in the story. He is traditionally portrayed as a one-legged pirate with a parrot on his shoulder.

Treasure Island was first published in 1883 and tells the story of Jim Hawkins, a young boy who becomes involved in a dangerous search for buried treasure after discovering a map leading to Skeleton Island.

The book has been adapted many times over the years, but a version directed by Scott and potentially starring Jackman would certainly be a major production for the island if Fuerteventura is selected.

For the local economy, a film of this scale could also bring spending and jobs, as well as putting Fuerteventura in front of an international audience.

There is still a fair amount of uncertainty, however. Neither Jackman's involvement nor Fuerteventura's selection as a filming location has been officially confirmed.

For now, the island is simply one of the locations reportedly being considered. But if Ridley Scott does return to Fuerteventura, it could be another very interesting chapter in the island's growing relationship with the film industry.

Image: C/C Jakub Krajňák