Hugh Jackman is set to play legendary pirate Long John Silver in a new adaptation of Treasure Island.

The Greatest Showman actor, who recently led the cast in surprise box-office hit The Sheep Detectives, will reportedly lead the cast of Ridley Scott’s planned take on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel.

Scott will direct from a script by Adolescence writer Jack Thorne, who will also serve as executive producer.

According to Deadline, the package is set to hit the market on Monday. And while 20th Century – who will release Scott’s next movie The Dog Stars in August – did get a first look, it ultimately turned down the project.

This was because 20th Century is a Disney division, where Pirates of the Caribbean is a priority and it didn’t want to take on competing projects.

Treasure Island  – which has sold more than 100 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages since its release in 1883 – follows a young boy, Jim Hawkins, who embarks on a dangerous sea voyage to claim a fortune after uncovering a map to legendary buried treasure, only to get embroiled in a deadly battle of wits with Long John Silver.

Every major studio is expected to be in the mix for the film.