It has been nearly 20 years since Ben Gates last went on an adventure, but the wait may finally be coming to an end. Director Jon Turteltaub confirmed at a live event in Philadelphia this past Friday that National Treasure 3 is actively in development at Disney, with a completed script that has received the studio’s blessing and Nicolas Cage set to return in the lead role.
Turteltaub made the announcement during a live taping of the National Treasure Hunt podcast at Philadelphia’s Independence Visitor Center, part of the city’s first-ever National Treasure Weekend celebration. He was direct about where things stand: “It’s finally real. Now, it’s Hollywood real, meaning things could happen.” That caveat is worth keeping in mind, but hearing the director of both original films say the words out loud is a very different moment than the years of rumors fans have been sitting with since Book of Secrets came out in 2007.
The news is especially notable given what Cage himself said not long ago. When asked about the chances of a third film in a previous interview, he was blunt: “No, there is no National Treasure 3. If you want to find treasure, don’t look at Disney, okay? It’s not there.” That quote made headlines at the time, and it makes Turteltaub’s confirmation all the more satisfying. Clearly, something has changed. The script has now reached a stage where both the director and Disney are happy with it, with the studio confirming it “sounds like a movie we can make.” As for the rest of the cast, Turteltaub said that “to whatever extent we can, everyone’s back,” suggesting the filmmakers are working to reassemble the original ensemble around Cage.
The first two films grossed $347 million and $459 million respectively, making them some of Cage’s most successful live-action work. Turteltaub also addressed the long delay, noting that America’s divisive political climate made it harder to move forward, and that the third film will aim to speak to that polarization without alienating audiences on either side. National Treasure 3 is not guaranteed yet, but it has never been closer to reality than it is right now. Are you excited to see Nicolas Cage back as Ben Gates? Let us know in the comments!
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