Eddie Izzard - Eddie Izzard: 'My Treasure Island Will Remind People How Terrifying Pirates Were'

The British star insists his new movie version of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson tale will terrify kids who thought the outlaws of the sea were lovable rogues like Captain Hook and Captain Jack Sparrow.

He tells TV Guide magazine, "We certainly have softened and romanticised them (pirates)... It's probably the Disney effect.

"The truth is, pirates were drunken, murderous bastards who didn't give a f**k about anyone but themselves and would not hesitate to rip you up.

"They were well organised, like mafia gangs. In fact, our approach here is much less classic Treasure Island and much more Goodfellas."