© Rex Features
Izzard said that he had previously considered the story to be more like a "pantomime", but claimed that the new two-part drama was "evil enough" to lure him into taking part.
"I agreed to do it because it is a Goodfellas style kick-ass version." said the comic.
Izzard plays pirate villain Long John Silver, alongside a cast including Phillip Glenister, Donald Sutherland, Elijah Wood, Rupert Penry-Jones, Daniel Mays and Keith Allen.
"The line that I was using was that the original Batman was quite a campy Batman. Then Tim Burton took it, kept it still for the family, but added a real edge to it. This is like the first Tim Burton Batman films," said Izzard.
"We want to keep everyone watching it, but we also want to add a real edge to it."
Shot on location in Ireland and Puerto Rico, the two-part adaptation was written by Stewart Harcourt (Poirot, Marple) and directed by Steve Barron (Merlin).
Treasure Island will air on Sky1 over Christmas and New Year.
