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National Treasure will return with its third installment. Starring Nicholas Cage, the first film was released in 2004 and starred the actor as treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates. Director Jon Turteltaub has shared a major update.
Nicholas Cage may return as treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates more than 20 years after National Treasure was first released. The third installment of the franchise has been long-awaited, but now director Jon Turteltaub, who helmed the first two films, confirmed that National Treasure 3 is already in development.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, during a live recording of the National Treasure Hunt podcast in Philadelphia, the filmmaker surprised the audience with the announcement. "I have not said anything before this, but you deserve to have the scoop," Turteltaub said, adding that the audience was “the first people I have said this out loud to.”
He then confirmed, "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."
It has been revealed that the screenplay of the third film has received a positive response from Turteltaub and Disney.
"We finally have a script that I like,” the director said, revealing that the studio responded by saying, “OK, this sounds like a movie we can make.”
Turteltaub also indicated that "To whatever extent we can, everyone’s back,” he said.
The director further added, "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."
The franchise featured Cage as historian and treasure hunter Ben Gates, who goes on a mission to hunt for a hidden treasure tied to the Declaration of Independence. The 2004 film also featured Diane Kruger as Abigail Chase, Justin Bartha as Riley Poole, along with Sean Bean, Jon Voight and Harvey Keitel.
Later in 2007 came National Treasure: Book of Secrets. It mostly retained the core cast and also introduced new characters played by Helen Mirren, Ed Harris and Bruce Greenwood.
The sequel also left audiences with an unresolved mystery surrounding Page 47 of the Book of Secrets.
Although the franchise later expanded with the Disney+ series National Treasure: Edge of History, the show lasted only one season. Bartha and Keitel returned to reprise their roles in the series.