It’s been about eighteen years since the most recent National Treasure film was released, but Apple TV+’s new movie, Fountain of Youth, is cut from the same cloth. While the TV series National Treasure: Edge of History did offer an opportunity to return to the franchise and showed that Disney hasn’t completely forgotten about the series, National Treasure 3 is way overdue. While there are other great heist movies and TV shows that have come out in that time, National Treasure‘s cast, characters, and interesting approach to historical mysteries feel special.
Though there’s no release date yet for National Treasure 3, Disney has kept some hope alive that Nicolas Cage and the other stars will come back one more time. Yet, the lack of true movement on another installment has been frustrating for anyone wanting another globe-trotting adventure where mythological objects exist in the real world. That’s where director Guy Ritchie’s upcoming film, Fountain of Youth, could be a replacement. The film starring John Krasinski and Natalie Portman practically looks and sounds like a National Treasure movie.
Apple TV+’s Fountain Of Youth Sounds Like A Fun Spin On The National Treasure Franchise
The Main Characters’ Familial Connections To Their Searches Are Important To Both Films
While waiting for National Treasure 3, Fountain of Youth could be the perfect alternative movie to check out. One major thing that the films seem to have in common is the emphasis on finding some sort of lost treasure, whether an actual treasure or the Fountain of Youth, through a heist that involves clues from items and stories from history. While National Treasure is more focused on American history, whereas the Fountain of Youth trailer establishes Luke as an art thief, the idea of stealing historical items in order to get clues from them feels straight out of National Treasure.
From the trailers, John Krasinski’s character Luke seems to have a lot in common with Nick Cage’s character Ben from the National Treasure movies. They both seem to exhibit a lot of quick thinking when it comes to solving historical mysteries. The main characters’ families’ ties to their desire to find the treasure are another major similarity, and much like Ben’s father in National Treasure, the trailer suggests that Natalie Portman’s character, Charlotte, starts out much less enthused than her brother Luke.
Fountain Of Youth Can Be A Worthy Replacement Until National Treasure 3 Happens
Fountain Of Youth Could Begin A New Action-Adventure Franchise
Since there’s still no news on National Treasure 3‘s release date, and even Nicholas Cage is surprised that National Treasure 3‘s development hasn’t progressed, Fountain of Youth could be the perfect movie to tide us over in the meantime. From the trailers, it looks like Fountain of Youth is aware that its premise has a lot in common with other similar types of films, with Luke’s failed kiss serving as one nod to a common trope in the genre. Fountain of Youth could serve as a fresh take on a historical heist in National Treasure‘s absence.
Much like the Nicholas Cage-led National Treasure series, Fountain of Youth‘s cast is good enough to warrant a sequel.
If the film is successful, Fountain of Youth could also serve as an opportunity to jump-start a new franchise. Much like the Nicholas Cage-led National Treasure series, Fountain of Youth‘s cast is good enough to warrant a sequel. Though only one film has been announced so far, it’s possible that we could see multiple Fountain of Youth movies before we even get to see the one new National Treasure film. Or, perhaps John Krasinski and Natalie Portman’s new movie will incentivize Disney to finally get moving on National Treasure 3.
