Nicolas Cage To Return For National Treasure 3, Teases Producer

National Treasure 3 gets an exciting new update, with producer Jerry Bruckheimer teasing a Nicolas Cage return. Released back in 2004, the original National Treasure remains one of Cage’s most beloved movies, with the iconic actor playing adventurer Ben Gates.

Cage reprised his role for the 2007 sequel, subтιтled Book of Secrets, but did not return for the short-lived 2022 Disney+ spinoff series, Edge of History. National Treasure 3 has long been in development with original director Jon Turteltaub, but Cage has previously expressed skepticism that the project will happen.

Now, in a recent interview with TheWrap, Bruckheimer confirms that National Treasure 3 is still in the works. “We’re getting closer on that one,” the producer said of the project. Crucially, Bruckheimer also reveals that the expectation for the film is that both Turteltaub and Cage will return.

After the National Treasure 3 update, Bruckheimer was then asked whether he was disappointed by the franchise making the jump to streaming TV with National Treasure: Edge of History. The producer explains that the series ultimately did its job of keeping the franchise feeling relevant to audiences. As he explains:

“No, it was completely different. We want to keep the name alive in the public eye [and] the zeitgeist.”

What This Means For National Treasure 3

Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha looking worried in National Treasure — Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha in National Treasure

Back in March 2024, Cage shared some candid comments about National Treasure 3 with ScreenRant. The actor took a sH๏τ at Disney, suggesting that the company is responsible for the film not coming to fruition. In his own words:

No, there is no National Treasure 3. If you want to find treasure, don’t look at Disney, okay? It’s not there.”

Cage’s blunt words are in opposition to comments from Turteltaub and screenwriter Ted Elliot, who have provided several promising updates on the project over the past few years. In August 2024, Elliot told the National Treasure Hunt podcast that a first draft of the script was done, and that Ben, Abigail (Diane Kruger), and Riley (Justin Bartha) were all included in the story.

Bruckheimer’s latest comments seemingly confirm, then, that work on National Treasure 3 hasn’t ceased over the last 14 months since the first draft of the script was completed. His comments could also be a sign that Cage has come around on the idea of a third film.

If the script were to be finalized this year for National Treasure 3, shooting wouldn’t begin until some point in 2026, meaning a 2027 or even 2028 release is possible. That being said, it could well take another year or more before a script is completed that everyone is happy with, meaning there could be a very long wait ahead.

Our Take On National Treasure 3

Nicolas Cage carrying the Declaration of Independence in National Treasure

It’s now been almost two decades since National Treasure: Book of Secrets came out. Although it would be exciting to see Cage, Kruger, and Bartha reunite with Turteltaub for another adventure uncovering what’s on page 47 of the President’s Book, it does seem like there will eventually come a point where it’s just been too long.

Getting Cage back as Ben, though, is a major piece of the puzzle, and that alone could be enough to interest audiences. It remains to be seen whether National Treasure 3 will ever actually happen, but Bruckheimer’s latest comments are reason to be optimistic.