Disney has been developing National Treasure 3, marking the first potential return of the franchise since 2007’s Book of Secrets. The project has been in discussion for years, but progress has been slow. Here’s the latest on its status and whether Nicolas Cage will return as Benjamin Gates.
Nicolas Cage on National Treasure 3
Back in a Reddit AMA in 2022, Cage responded to speculation about his return offering Disney was focusing on the TV show:
“No, the priority was to turn it into a TV show, so I would say probably not.”
In March 2024, Cage again dismissed the idea that the film was moving forward, telling Screen Rant:
“No, there is no National Treasure 3. If you want to find treasure, don’t look at Disney, okay? It’s not there.”
Since then, Cage has continued working on other projects, including The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and Renfield. While some fans hope for his return, his recent comments suggest he is doubtful about National Treasure 3 happening at all.
National Treasure 3 Script and Production Updates
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer on the Sequel
Two weeks later, producer Jerry Bruckheimer told Movie Web:
“Well, we hope there’s a National Treasure 3. We’ve been working on it for quite a while. We have a brilliant writer working on it right now, so hopefully, if we get a script in a timely fashion, we’ll send it to Nic [Cage] and, if he likes it, we’ll make another one. We certainly would like to.”
Director Jon Turteltaub on Development
Director Jon Turteltaub also stated in May 2024 that the script was still in development. He appeared on the National Treasure Hunt podcast and expressed optimism about bringing back the original cast but provided no concrete timeline for production:
“100%. … We do have to hurry because people are both getting older and less interested and lives are changing and all that. And the world changes. Our culture is changing. A lot. Since the first movie was made. Socially, certainly politically, and definitely, our language, and different cultural changes we’ve had. And you’ve got to make sure you’re in touch with all that and moving with it, and doing things the right way… It’s not as easy to just do another one. You’ve got to take a lot into account. I can tell you, 20 years later Justin Bartha is a lot better looking.“
Screenwriter Ted Elliott on the Storyline
In August of last year, screenwriter Ted Elliot also filled in the National Treasure Hunt podcast a bit about plot details:
“Riley has changed more [than anybody else.] If you just look at the two points that are established for him in the first and second movies. In the first one, he is the uninformed audience… That’s the role he plays. He’s the guy who says, ‘What are you talking about there?’ In the second one he’s written a book about cryptohistory. And he’s right! He knows something Ben didn’t know about history. I just have to think that that’s continued. It becomes more difficult to do the history exposition because… there are things [Riley] can know now…
In terms of writing the third movie, there is, I think, a change to Ben and Riley’s inner relationship that I think both actors will really enjoy…
Agent Sudusky is dead. I’m treating the TV series as canon… I’m trying to do something different with the FBI than was done in the previous two movies. There’s still the pursuers, there’s still the force for law and order, but just the way they operate I’m trying to do something just a little bit different.”
What About the National Treasure TV Series?
Instead of a third film, Disney moved forward with National Treasure: Edge of History, a Disney+ series focused on a younger cast. The show debuted in 2022 and followed a new lead character, played by Lisette Olivera, searching for historical secrets.
The series was canceled after one season, but per Ted Elliott above, it remains canon.
National Treasure 3: Everything We Know So Far
- Nicolas Cage has denied that the film is happening.
- Once the script us done, it will be sent to Nicolas Cage for his approval.
- Jerry Bruckheimer remains attached as a producer.
- Director Jon Turteltaub has said the script is still being worked on.
- Ted Elliot is the writer.
- Disney+ attempted to revive the franchise with a TV series, which was canceled after one season.
- The Disney+ series remains canon.
While National Treasure 3 is still in development, there’s no clear timeline for production. Whether Cage returns or not, the franchise’s future remains in question.
