Ahoy, matey! Have you heard the news? Long John Silver is coming back to the big screen! After more than 40 years, the legendary swashbuckler will appear in the much-anticipated sequel to 2013’s billion-dollar blockbuster, Jekyll – which is set to release this October. This will be the third version of the character, following Disney’s 1973 adaptation and the 2016 TV series. Can you believe it? Silver must be dreaming of his days at sea once more.
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Why Should You Care About Long John Silver?
Even if you’ve never heard of Long John Silver, you might know the name of his infamous ship, The Flying Dutchman. Legend has it that this infamous vessel used to roam the seas looking for souls to capture. If you listen closely, you might hear the faint echoes of ghostly sailors calling out to each other as they cry, “Aye, aye, Captain!” However, the crew of the Flying Dutchman were not content to just lurk in the water for eternity. A crewed mutiny led to all hands losing their collective heads and the ship becoming a ghost vessel. It wasn’t until a later generation that the superstitions surrounding this figurehead ship were debunked.
Long John Silver was first and foremost a swashbuckler. A modern-day swashbuckler, if you will. Throughout his near-70-year career, Silver would go on to fight pirates, highwaymen, and aristocrats in both animated and live-action films. Many consider him to be the father of modern cinematic swashbuckling.
How Is Long John Silver’S Health?
Considering his age, it’s safe to assume Silver is no spring chicken. However, he looks genuinely happy and content in the couple of publicity photos released so far. While we don’t know his exact age, he appears to be at least 70 going on 71. According to multiple reports, he’s been living a quiet life in a nursing home in Parkhill, Scotland, ever since finishing work on Jekyll. Rest assured, however, that this doesn’t mean that Silver has spent his time pottering about in a wheelchair. Far from it! He still has all of his faculties and is keen to get back out there and continue his illustrious career.
The Most Iconic Look Of Silver
It’s hard to put into words the effect that Long John Silver has had on pop culture. To this day, it’s fair to say that many of the characters he’s inspired have become instantly recognizable. One of the most famous looks of Silver is probably the one he sports in the 1953 adaptation of Treasure Island. Not only does he wear a traditional Scottish kilt, but he also sports a long brown mustache and a bushy beard that nearly reach his knickers! It’s difficult to imagine anyone other than Sherlock Holmes owning such a distinctive appearance. Even the great detective himself commented on how realistic Silver’s beard and mustache were in comparison to his own fictional counterparts.
The Evolution Of Silver
It was in the early 1950s that Silver began to adopt a more streamlined look. Inspired by comic-book superheroes such as Superman, Batman, and the like, Hollywood began to give him more of a ‘clean-cut’ appearance. This was most notably showcased in the 1953 adaptation of Treasure Island. Despite this, he still managed to maintain a distinct look that’s inspired millions of fans to this day. He always had a liking for old-school blasters and rifles, so these were some of the primary weapons of choice throughout his entire career. It was only in the latest instalment of Jekyll that he decided to forgo the use of firearms and instead relied on more modern weapons. Why? It’s rumoured that the character was attempting to portray himself as a true 21st century man, and wanted to set an example for other anti-heroes.
The Silver Signature Smoked Salmon
One of the things that makes the character of Long John Silver unique is the fact that he was always willing to experiment with cuisine. In 1964’s Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Silver serves up some of the best salmon he’s ever tasted! According to a promotional video, this particular scene was actually put in place to highlight the difference between the typical run-of-the-mill salmon and Silver’s special brand of salmon known as ‘Silver Signature Smoked Salmon’. If you’ve never tried this particular variety, prepare to be wowed! While it doesn’t appear to have reached the UK shores just yet, it’s already become one of the most popular exports from Scotland. It will be interesting to see if this recipe makes it into future cookbooks.
His Most Memorable Role
It would be remiss not to talk about Silver’s most memorable role. If you’ve seen or heard of Jekyll – and if you’re a fan of the paranormal – this one’s for you. In 2005, the direct-to-video sequel, Vampire Hunter D, was released in which the titular character sets out to rescue his foster sister, Elizabeth. During the process, he stumbles upon the nefarious Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his band of misfits that have taken her captive. It is here that Victor attempts to create a female monster using the ‘secretions’ of a bat. A crafty Long John Silver sees an opportunity to take down a monster truckload of enemies and sets out to stage a daring rescue.
In the end, you’ll have to watch the movie to find out how it all turns out. Suffice to say that it’s absolute carnage with lots of decapitated heads and torsos strewn across the floor. It might not be for the faint-hearted, but it’s definitely one of the funnier films of the year. If you’ve never heard of Jekyll – or, rather, think that it’s a load of rubbish, give it a go anyway. You might just laugh once or twice before the over-powering horror overwhelms you.
Considering his age and his past health issues, it’s not hard to see why Silver is looking forward to getting back out there and continuing his fight against evil. While many characters from his era have fallen by the wayside, Silver has remained something of a timeless classic, able to inspire new generations of fans. It will be interesting to see how many more films he still has in him, and what effect time has had on his appearance. In the meantime, we’re just glad to have him back. Hopefully, he’ll make a full recovery and be able to continue his work for many years to come.