After years of rumors, National Treasure 3 is said to be finally happening. That’s according to scooper Daniel Richtman (Daniel RPK), who reports that the long-awaited sequel is in development at Disney.
UPDATE — August 2026: Confirmed. Director Jon Turteltaub says National Treasure 3 is “finally real,” with a script Disney has approved and Nicolas Cage returning as Ben Gates. Read the full story here.
UPDATE: The question of Cage’s involvement gets a fresh look in light of the renewed audience demand signaled by the films’ Hulu Top 5 performance and his on-screen reunion with Diane Kruger on the Spider-Noir press tour.
This marks the biggest update yet for the franchise since 2007’s National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Fans have waited nearly two decades for a third movie, but Disney has been slow to move forward, until now, apparently.
What does the rumor say?
The rumor doesn’t offer much other than Daniel RPK claims that National Treasure 3 is in development. The scooper doesn’t get everything right, but making a claim that National Treasure 3 is happening at Disney is pretty big, so it could very well be legit.
National Treasure 3 is reportedly in development
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) July 9, 2025
via: DanielRPK pic.twitter.com/L27AWynRBU
Will Nicolas Cage Return?
The big question is whether Nicolas Cage will return as treasure hunter Benjamin Gates. Cage has been skeptical in the past. Last year, he flat-out denied a third movie was happening, saying Disney was focused on the Edge of History TV show instead.
But producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Jon Turteltaub have remained hopeful. Both previously said they had a script in the works and wanted to bring back Cage and the original cast.
Per what Bruckheimer has said in the past, once the script is finished, it will be sent to Cage to see if he’s interested. So far, no word on Cage’s involvement.
“Well, we hope there’s a National Treasure 3. We’ve been working on it for quite a while,” said Bruckheimer last year. “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.”
Franchise History & What’s Next
Disney tried to revive the franchise in 2022 with the National Treasure: Edge of History Disney+ series, but it only lasted one season. Screenwriter Ted Elliott confirmed the series is still canon and hinted the next movie would bring changes and expand Riley’s character.
With National Treasure 3 said to finally be in active development, all eyes are on Disney and Bruckheimer to deliver a script, and on Nicolas Cage to see if he’ll say yes.
For the full story on the years of development, check out our earlier article here.
