A third National Treasure movie is finally happening, and according to franchise director Jon Turteltaub, it will see the return of Nicolas Cage as treasure hunter Benjamin Gates.
Speaking during a live taping of the National Treasure podcast in Philadelphia, which was posted on the podcast’s Instagram page, Turteltaub said, “It’s happening. You’re the first people I’ve said this out loud to. I have not said anything before this, but you deserve to have the scoop. It’s finally real.”
Additionally, Turteltaub revealed that Cage, who starred in the first two films, is expected to return for the National Treasure sequel, adding that a screenplay approved by him and Disney has already been written and “to whatever extent we can, everyone’s back.” Still, he noted that unforeseen circumstances might still affect these plans. “Nic gets hit by a bus, there’s no National Treasure 3. If I get hit by a bus, there’s probably a National Treasure 3. Welcome to Hollywood,” he joked.
Released in 2004, National Treasure starred Cage as historian Ben Gates, who steals the Declaration of Independence in search of a hidden map to an ancient treasure hidden by the Freemasons. The film also starred Diane Kruger as Abigail Chase, Justin Bartha as Riley Poole, Jon Voight as Patrick Gates, Harvey Keitel as Sadusky, and Sean Bean as Ian Howe.
The film would go on to receive a 2007 sequel, National Treasure: The Book of Secrets, which saw the entire core cast return, aside from Bean, and added Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, and Bruce Greenwood to its cast as Emily Appleton, Mitch Wilkinson, and the President, respectively. The film centred on the titular Book of Secrets, a classified collection of information passed between Presidents. The franchise was later expanded into a TV series with 2022’s National Treasure: Edge of History, with Keitel and Bartha making an appearance, but it was cancelled after one season.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
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A'bidah Zaid
