“National Treasure 3” is no longer a rumor. Finally. Director Jon Turteltaub confirmed that the long-awaited sequel is “finally real” after years of false starts and development limbo.
In the live recording of the “National Treasure Hunt” podcast in Philadelphia, Turteltaub shared the news that fans have starved for nearly 20 years since “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” in 2007.
Ben Gates is returning
The director went as far as indicating that the original cast might be coming back for this next adventure.
This means Nicolas Cage would probably be back as treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates, Variety reports.
Hopes are also high for the return of Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Jon Voight, and Harvey Keitel.
However, Turteltaub carefully noted that anything can happen in Hollywood so the cast is very much still in limbo.
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Script in place
Unlike previous sequel rumors, this update comes with a major difference: there is reportedly already a screenplay that both the director and Disney support.
This suggests that the movie is no longer just an idea; it’s in a more serious part of development.
The long wait
The wait between films has become part of the franchise’s legacy.
The first “National Treasure” released in 2004 and followed historian and cryptographer Ben Gates as he attempted to uncover a hidden fortune by stealing the Declaration of Independence. The first movie grossed over $300 million worldwide.
Fast forward to 2007, when the “Book of Secrets,” which is about secret pages and historical mysteries of the United States, earned around $459 million worldwide.
Yet a third movie never materialized, leaving fans wondering what happened to the mystery teased at the end of the second film, particularly the infamous reference to Page 47 of the President’s Book of Secrets.
Disney’s forgotten blockbuster
While “National Treasure” enjoyed continued popularity through streaming and television reruns, it has mostly been overshadowed by Marvel and Lucasfilm titles in Disney.
And when it tried to revive the IP through the series “National Treasure: Edge of History,” it only ran for one season.
Now, the studio appears ready to return to the character that made the franchise a hit in the first place.
The hunt is back on.
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