More than two decades after the original historical adventure hit theaters, director Jon Turteltaub confirmed that a third installment of the National Treasure franchise is officially happening with an approved script and the intention to bring back original star Nicolas Cage.
Director Confirms Script and Studio Approval in Philadelphia
The announcement came during a live recording of the National Treasure Hunt podcast at the Philadelphia Visitor Center, where director Jon Turteltaub broke the news to a stunned audience during a three-day weekend celebration dedicated to the films. Turteltaub confirmed “it’s happening” on Friday night to Aubrey Paris and Emily Black, hosts of the National Treasure Hunt podcast, during a taping of the podcast before a live audience at the Philadelphia Visitor Center. Initially, the crowd was stunned with disbelief, as if Turteltaub had just told them he was going to steal the Declaration of Independence, but after the director confirmed they were the first people I have said this out loud to,
fans broke out in thunderous applause and cheers.
I have not said anything before this, but you deserve to have the scoop,
Turteltaub told Paris and Black. Turteltaub — who also directed Cool Runnings, While You Were Sleeping, and The Meg — said there’s a script he and Disney like and to whatever extent we can, everyone’s back
in the National Treasure cast, including Cage. The Hollywood Reporter reached out to Disney for comment and they declined. Turteltaub said before revealing that Disney said, OK, this sounds like a movie we can make.
“It’s finally real. Now, it’s ‘Hollywood real,’ meaning things could happen. 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.”Jon Turteltaub, Director
Navigating Political Realities and Cultural Divisions
Turteltaub said one of the reasons it’s taken nearly two decades to make another chapter in the saga is the political climate of the country. He told a story about former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy calling him out of the blue to ask for a private screening of National Treasure for Congress. He, like others, were surprised that Democrats made that movie because Democrats can’t be patriots. That’s the thought and it just got worse,
Turteltaub said. And on the Democrats’ side: ‘Oh, Republicans, they just want to keep stuff to themselves, they hate everybody, they want to kill everyone and blah blah blah.
Turteltaub said because of the internet, people are quick to read politics into everything and take sides, and that will be addressed in the third film. We have to be very careful, but I don’t feel we are allowed to ignore it,
he said. I think we have to include that idea in the story somehow without making someone feel put off.
Box Office Legacy and Prior Franchise Expansion
The first National Treasure film was released in 2004 and followed Cage as historian Ben Gates, who steals the Declaration of Independence to find a map to an ancient, rumored treasure before anyone else can get to it. Harvey Keitel, Jon Voight, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean, Justin Bartha and Christopher Plummer also starred in the film, which grossed $347 million at the global box office. The 2007 follow-up, National Treasure: The Book of Secrets, earned $459 million worldwide and added Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Bruce Greenwood and Ty Burrell to the cast, bringing the movies’ combined gross past $800M at the global box office.
The franchise later expanded to television with National Treasure: Edge of History, which premiered on Disney+ in 2022 but was canceled after one season. Catherine Zeta-Jones joined the cast, while Bartha and Keitel reprised their roles.
What Remains Uncertain About the Return of Ben Gates
As for the third feature, no casting has been announced. THR reached out to Cage’s representative for comment, and Disney declined to comment when reached by the publication. Turteltaub did not say whether the third film would include any scenes in Philadelphia, nor did he offer any further details about the plot.
