'National Treasure 3' Is Officially Happening, Director Confirms
A third "National Treasure" movie is officially in development at Disney, according to director Jon Turteltaub, with Nicolas Cage set to return as treasure hunter Ben Gates nearly two decades after the last film.
Turteltaub made the announcement Friday, Aug. 21, during a live taping of the "National Treasure Hunt" podcast at Philadelphia's Independence Visitor Center, part of the city's first-ever National Treasure Weekend celebration.
He told the audience, "I was thinking about mentioning this tonight, I'll say it tonight. It's happening. You're the first people I have said this out loud to." He added, "It's finally real. Now, it's 'Hollywood real,' meaning things can happen. Nic gets hit by a bus, there's no National Treasure. If I get hit by a bus, there's probably a National Treasure."
Why the Announcement Feels Different This Time
Turteltaub, who directed the original 2004 film and its 2007 sequel, "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," said the project has reached a new stage after years of speculation, telling the crowd, "We finally have a script that I like," before Disney told him, "OK, this sounds like a movie we can make."
The update follows years of mixed signals about the franchise's future. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer told E! News in 2022 that a theatrical follow-up with Cage was "ongoing" even as a separate spinoff series moved forward with a new cast. That series, Disney+'s "National Treasure: Edge of History," ran for one season in 2022 and included cameos from original cast members Justin Bartha and Harvey Keitel, while also referencing an unresolved cliffhanger from the end of "Book of Secrets" involving a mysterious "page 47." Cage himself had previously downplayed the idea of a third film, telling an interviewer at one point, "No, there is no National Treasure 3."
What to Expect From the Story
Turteltaub said the long gap between films has partly stemmed from the difficulty of telling a patriotism-themed adventure story in the current political climate. He recounted being contacted years ago by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy requesting a private congressional screening of the original film, saying some conservatives were surprised a film about American patriotism came from what they viewed as a Hollywood establishment associated with Democrats, while others assumed conservatives wanted to hoard the country's ideals for themselves. Turteltaub said that dynamic has only intensified with the rise of social media, adding, "We have to be very careful, but I don't feel we are allowed to ignore it. I think we have to include that idea in the story somehow without making someone feel put off."
He did not share plot details or confirm whether the third film would include scenes shot in Philadelphia, but said that "to whatever extent we can, everyone's back," suggesting an effort to reassemble much of the original cast alongside Cage.
Background on the Franchise
The original "National Treasure" followed historian and treasure hunter Ben Gates as he raced to find a legendary trove hidden by the Founding Fathers, using a clue written on the back of the Declaration of Independence. The film starred Cage alongside Harvey Keitel, Jon Voight, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean, Justin Bartha and Christopher Plummer, and grossed $347.5 million worldwide. Its 2007 sequel added Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Bruce Greenwood and Ty Burrell to the cast and brought in $459 million globally.
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