Will National Treasure 3 with Nicolas Cage Ever Happen?

After over 16 years of waiting, fans of the National Treasure franchise are still wondering if Nicolas Cage will return as treasure-hunting historian Benjamin Franklin Gates. With two successful films and a short-lived Disney+ spinoff, the question remains: will National Treasure 3 ever make it to theaters?

The Journey So Far

National Treasure 3 Trailer 2025 Release Date Cast & Plot Nicolas Cage Returns for Epic Adventure 🎬💎

The first two films, directed by Jon Turteltaub and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, became massive hits, grossing over $800 million worldwide. Released in 2004 and 2007, the movies followed Ben Gates and his team as they uncovered secrets of American history through thrilling adventures.

Despite this success, plans for a third installment stalled for years. Scripts were drafted in 2010 and went through multiple rewrites in 2016 and 2018, but Disney hesitated on moving forward. In 2020, a significant development occurred when Chris Bremner (Bad Boys for Life) was hired to overhaul the script. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed that work was ongoing, aiming to reunite the original cast.

What’s the Current Status?

While no official release date has been announced, there’s hope. Bruckheimer stated in 2022 that a working script was completed and awaiting Nicolas Cage’s approval. He emphasized that National Treasure 3 would include the original cast, unlike the Disney+ series National Treasure: Edge of History, which featured a younger ensemble and was canceled after one season.

Cage has not publicly confirmed his involvement yet, but Bruckheimer remains optimistic:

“Hopefully [Cage] likes it, but it’s really good. I think we’ll get it to him shortly.”

Who Might Return?

Aside from Cage, fans can expect familiar faces. Justin Bartha, who played tech-savvy Riley Poole, has expressed enthusiasm for returning:

“There is still hope for another movie…The constant drumbeat from the fans for a third movie just makes it a no-brainer for me.”

Other potential returning cast members include Diane Kruger (Abigail Chase), Jon Voight (Patrick Gates), and Harvey Keitel (FBI agent Peter Sadusky), all of whom have shown interest in reprising their roles.

What Could National Treasure 3 Be About?

A likely plot could focus on the mysterious “page 47” from the President’s Book of Secrets, teased at the end of National Treasure: Book of Secrets. This enigmatic clue was described as “life-altering” by Riley and could serve as the foundation for another high-stakes treasure hunt.

Speculation about potential treasures includes the missing 18-and-a-half minutes of the Watergate Tapes, the Virginian Beale Ciphers, or lost artifacts from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist. Whatever the focus, fans can expect a race against time to uncover history’s secrets.

The Future of National Treasure

With Jerry Bruckheimer’s recent success producing Top Gun: Maverick, there’s renewed optimism that National Treasure 3 could finally move forward. The passion of its dedicated fanbase, combined with Cage’s star power and the enduring appeal of historical adventures, makes it a project with undeniable potential.

For now, it’s a waiting game, but the treasure-hunting spirit of National Treasure continues to captivate audiences. If and when National Treasure 3 releases, it could be the franchise’s most epic adventure yet.

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