‘National Treasure 3’ Is ‘Happening,’ Says Franchise Director Jon Turteltaub

The third installment in the "National Treasure" franchise may be on its way to cinemas, according to director Jon Turteltaub. During a live taping of the "National Treasure Hunt" podcast in Philadelphia, Turteltaub confirmed that a script is being developed with Disney's backing and that Nicolas Cage is in discussions to reprise his role.

Turteltaub expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, "It’s finally real." However, he also added a touch of Hollywood realism, noting that "if I get hit by a bus, there's probably a National Treasure." Turteltaub, who directed the first two films, "National Treasure" in 2004 and "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" in 2007, described the third movie's current status as "finally" in a form the studio finds promising.

The two previous films, which grossed $347 million and $459 million respectively, are among Cage's highest-grossing live-action roles. The first film, "National Treasure," follows historian Ben Gates (Cage) who steals the Declaration of Independence after discovering a secret map to a treasure on its reverse side. The sequel, "Book of Secrets," saw Gates fighting to clear his family's name after a newly discovered page from John Wilkes Booth's diary implicates his ancestor in President Abraham Lincoln's assassination.

A spinoff series, "National Treasure: Edge of History," aired on Disney+ in 2022, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones. At this time, Cage's and Disney's representatives had not commented on the development.